The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1915-08-27

actual story OF all that tranSpired on
the death of ride of Leo M. Frank
from Milledgeville to Marietta be-
tween midnight and dawn last Tues
day morning became available to the
Associated Press today. The recital
did not come through second or third
hands, but in a manner which SEEM
lnly placed its authenticity beyond
all questions.The narrator, however,
will not be a witness before the Cobb
county grand jury which on Septem>
Der l, will be asked to undertake a
thorough investigation Of the lynching
OF the man alleged to have been the
slayer of little Mary Phagan. 1t
became known today that Gov. Nat
+. Harris during the past few days
has received several ANONYMOUS
threatening letters purporting to warn
him not to go "too far" in his inves-
tigation of the lynching. The gov
ernor is not inclined to take the let
ters at all seriously, but looks upon
them as the outgrowth of the dis
turbed sentiment of the moment.
The "inside story" of the events
which preceded the finding of
Franks lifeless body swaying from
the limb of the biggest oak tree in
the vicinity of "Bilp Frey's gin
cleared up many phases of the tragic
incident which heretofore have been
yelled in mystery.
Did not Confess
First. Frank did not confess. He
twice was asked if he had anything
to say, but on each occasion replied
mo" Asked pointedly if he killed
the Phagan girl, he is said to have
made no reply whatever.
Second. No attempt was made to
force a confession. Franks state
ment just prior to his death that he
loved his wife and mother better
than he did his life came unexpect-
edly and without questioning.
Third. Frank was not maltreated
in any wa prior to the actual lynch
ing. Stories that he may have met
violent death before hanged to the
Fray tree are without foundation.
Fourth. Frank walked distance of
200 hard from the automobile to the
death tree without faltering step,
without sigh or semblance of pro-
test: Fearing perhaps that his body
might never reach his relatives, he
asked that the wedding ring he wore
be delivered to newspaper man with
the solmn promise that it would be
was carried out.
Fifth. Frank was told from the
start that he was to be executed"
as the courts had directed that he
be and every effort was made to see
that the illegal hanging" as the mob
termed the lynching, was carried out
in an orderly manner. Members are
said to resent any intimation that
Frank was "maltreated" while in
their custody. They assert he was
given exactly the same consideration
usually given to condemned man on
the day of his execution. The rough
handling of the body after it was cut
down was matter concerning which
members of the mob feel they were
not responsible.
Sixth. The members of the party
telt they had sacred duty" to per-
form in earring out the mandate
of the courts of the State and of the
United States" There was no mob
spirit, no demonstration, and there
is said to have been no idea of hang
ing Frank in the public square at
Marietta or in the cemetery where
Mary Phagan is buried. There was,
however, a determination that the
execution should take place N Cobb
county. Inasmuch as all the mem
bars of the party are said to be resi-
dents of Cobb county the reason for
this is obvious.
Seven automobiles were required to
transport the mob from Marietta to
Mi!ledgeville. Only four returned, in-
Guiding the car in which Frank rode
Al! of the machines are small cars
of popular make. These cars were
specially selected because of the diff
Guilty in identifying them. No car OF
conspicuous color or design was
wanted. There were probably 28 men
In the lynching party
The machines left Marietta singly
during the afternoon of Monday last
and It was shortly after 10 o'clock
when the prison farm was reached.
After Warden Smith and Superin-
tendent Burke had been called from
their homes and handcuffed, the party
proceeded to the prisonhouse in
whlch Frank was known to be quar-
tered. Frank was just recovering
from the wound inflicted on his throat
by William Green, a fellow prisoner,
and was to have been returned to the
regular, sleeping domitory on Tues
day night. On the night of his death,
however, he was still living in the
hospital room adjourning the war
den's office.
When the lynching party had en-
tered the prison and the members
were disarming the outer guards, one
of the TRUSTEES at the farm who was
also on guard duty quickly blew out
an oil lamp burning just outside
Franks door. He also extinguished
the dim light burning in the hospital
room.
A member of the invading party
was quick to see this. He hailed the
"trusty."
"Come here with a match" he
,,. III