Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-17
FATE OF FAMOUS
LIFE PRISONER is
NOT YET KNOWN
He May Have Been Lynched,
or Captors May Be
His Friends.
WARDEN 0VERPOWERED
BY TWENTY-FIVE MEN
Slayer of Mary Phagan Seized
and Rushed Away in
Automobile.
WIRES TO PRISON ARE CUT
After Daring Seizure, Mob and Cap
tive Rush Off Toward
Eatonton.
WIRES TO PRISON ARE CUT
After Daring Seizure, Mob and Cap
tive Rush Off Toward
EatontOn.

AIdtohtohs
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA, Au-
gust 16.-Leo M. Frank, slayer
of Mary Phagan, Georgia's
noted life-term convict, was
removed from the Georgia
prison farm here tonight by
twenty-five armed men, who
overpowered Warden Smith.
Previous to the attack wires
leading to the prison itself had
been cut. Frank was placed in
an automobile and rushed in
the direction Of Eatonton.
1t has not been ascertained
whether Frank was lynched or
whether the party that removed
him from the prison were his
friends.
The attack was made shortly
before midnight. The warden
and most of the guards were
sleeping on a rear porch of the
main building in which the
prisoners are confined. Both
he and the guards were hand
cuffed. after which the party
entered the prison and removed
Frank
A few weeks ago an atten1pt
was made by j. William Green,
another life-term convict, to
kill Frank by cutting his throat.
Franks condition was serious
for some days, but it was an
nounced recently that he prac-
tically had recovered.
First reports that it might be
friends of Frank were dispelIed
when a prisoner said he had
heard a member of the mob say
that Franks body would be
placed tomorrow on the grave
of Mary Phagan at Marietta.
ORDERLY MOB WORKS
WITH QUICK PRECISION
The mob was orderly but worker with
quick precision. Eight automobiles took
The men to within a short distance Of
the prison. First. all wires from tho
prison, and all except one from Mil
ledgeville were cut
Five men went to the house of 7. r
Smith, warden, covered him with MIS-
tolls and stood guard over him. Other
men went TO the house OF j. NJ. Burke.
superintendent OF the prison. and held
him under cover OF their guns.
Practically every other member Of
ha oh, thar
gate nearest the dormitory where
Frank was being housed Only yester-
day did the physicians discharge him
from the hospital. where he had been
since being murderously assaulted in
the dormitcry.
AS on the night Frank was attacked.
only two guards were on duty. The
mob quickly overpowered Chief Night
Guard Hester and the other man on
duty, proceeded to the dormitory. and
within few minutes seized Frank and
rushed him back to the automobiles.
Those who had been holding Smith and
Burke left aS soon as Frank was
brought out and joined their fellows.
The automobiles were then started in
the direction Of Eatonton Nothing
ter they left.
Only one member Of that part OF the
mob that went to the dormitory talked
He gave the commands to the guards
which were backed up by the arms OF
tho cth"r rNemhers OF the mob
A prisoner who was sleeping In the
dormitory is responsible for the state
ment that this spokeman said the
mob intended to take Frank to Ma
rietta, and that tomorrow morning his
body would be found on the grave of
Mary Phagan. for whose murder the
prisoner was serving life sentence
NO PERSON KNOWS FROM
WHENCE MOD CAME
No person could be found here to-
night who knew from which dIrec-
ton the mob came. This would hardly
have been the case al any time. for the
first few weeks after Frank was taken
to the State prison farm. Rumors OF
plans TO take Frank out of the prison
were heard almost daily then. and not
only were roads protected, but a large
force OF guards was kept on duty at
the prison.
One persistent report that a crowd
was coming from Marietta resulted in
the local company OF militia being
held In readiness to guard the prison.
Such reports had not been heard In
the pa st few weeks and favor nreeau.