New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
Swings to Tree for
Hours as 5000
Look On.
ONLY CUT DOWN
ON JUDGES PLEA
Throng Pursues Auto
mobile Carrying Dead
Man to Atlanta.
NOCLEW TOLYNCHERS
Coroner Begins Investigation
Many Autos Had Gone from
Marietta Night of Raid.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune J

By Telegraph 10 The Tribune J
Marietta, Ga, Aug. 17.-For more
than two hours to-day the body OF
Leo NJ. Frank swung in the morn
ing sunshine, two miles east of this
city, while a mob of 5000 debated
its fate. The counsels Of N. A.
Morris, formerly Superior Court
judge of Cobb County, finally pre-
vailed and the crowd permitted the
removal Of the body, though men
edged their way to the foot of the
tee and kicked at the corpse when
it was cut down.
The grim and silent men who
snatched FRANK from his bed in the
prison at Milledgeville had carried
him in one of their automobiles for
nearly 100 miles and hanged him
near the home Of fourteen-year-old
Mary Phagan, of whose murder
Frank was convicted.
Coroner Booth of Cobb County
empanelled a jury and announced
that a strict inquiry into the affair
would be made. Two witnesses were
called; then the investigation was
adjourned for a week.
1t was not until after 8 o'clock
this morning that Franks body was
discovered. He had been hanged TO
a tree at the edge of patch of woods
or the Miredgeville- Marietta turn
pike.
Farmer Discovers Body.
A farmer driving TO town saw tho
embroidered silk nightshirt which
Frank wore when he was hauled
from his prison cot fluttering in the
breeze. A few minutes later the
farmers painting horse came to
stop in the public square and the
farmer shouted his news.
An immense crowd gathered and
gazed at the swinging object. 1t
hung from an oak tree. A white
handkerchief covered the face. Arms
and legs were closely bound and the
hangman's knot under the right jaw
gave further evidence of the busi-
nesslike way in which the lynchers
had gone about their work.
A medley Of cries went up.
Don't move the Jews body till We
shoot it full of holes" shouted a man.
and the mob swayed forward threaten.
ingly.
1t was then that Judge Morris clam
bered on a fence and addressed the
throng.
Let there be no further violence"
he said. The work Of the mob is done.
Leo NJ. Frank has given his life for the
crime he is alleged to have committed.
Do not mutilate the body. Let il be
sent to his mother. | appeal to your
better judgment and ask all who
agree with the course | suggest to
raise their right hands"
Mob Yields TO Appeal.
There was moments hesitation.
then uplifted hands appeared above the
crowd and the body was cut down.
The crowd surged forward and sew
eral men broke through the support
ers of judge Morris, who had gathered
in knot about the body, and delivered
vicious kicks at Franks face. Some OF
them took effect.
The body was lifted into a wagon,
which was driven toward Marietta. At
the outskirts of the city il was trans
ferred 10 an automobile. Those in
charge feared that violence might fol-
low if Franks body was taken further.
Already dust cloud showed that the
pursuit had started.
Turning into the Atlanta road the
chauffeur put on full speed. For fully
two miles behind him the road was
filled with automobiles in not pursuit.
Several of the cars were speedy and
overhsuled their quarry. To the din Of
horns and the throbbing elstter OF
many motors the body was carried to
Atlanta.
1t was after lO:30 o'clock before
Coroner Booth reached the woodot
behind Frye's cotton gin and the body
was cut down. For more than two
hours the silent. lfeless objee; had
been the target for countless gibes and
the subject of heated controversy as 20
whether IL should be left unmutilated
Many Of the county officials were en-
gagged in the search for the men who
had Kidnapped Frank. For some time
they beat the vicinity Of the Little