New Britain herald., 1915-06-21
COmmutes Death Sentend Condemned for Murder {
 Phagan to Life Impriso
PRISONER TAKEN TO
 STATE PENIYE|
Police Close Near-Beer sal order Arrest of Any pc' tempting to Incie
 Executive Issues Long Giving His Reasons tor CIcnicncy in Case.

N5cbuCtfty TIT SaSS.
 Atlanta, Ga. June 21
 Franks death sentence w@
 muted to life Imprisonment
 Governor slaton. Announce
 the governors decision camt
 hours after Frank had been
 taken from the jail here and
 to the state prison farm at WX vile. Frank was sentenced
 hanged tomorrow for the nuf| Mary Phagan in April, lgI3
 Governor Slaton made th< nouncement of his decision @ country home and dictaated t@ lowing statement
 "All I ask is that the pe6{| Georgia read my statement u' reasons why commuted Le Franks death sentence to Iif> prisonment before they pass ment.
 Would be MuruGFEr. Feeling as l do about this would be a murderer if l aIloU1 man to hang. Ii means thai live in obscurity the rest of f1< butfI would rather be plowif1 field than to feel for the rest life that I had that mans hlo6 my hands"
 Reviews Circumstances x In his statement ,exhAustivc| plaining his reasons for comm Franks sentences Governor Slat| viewed the circumstances sufr ing the murder of Mary Fh4x the National Pencil factory hen April 2e, 1913, the conyictiof Frank and his appeal for cien Continuing the statement reads
 The murder, was a most he one and the offender deserved punishment of death. The only ton is as to the identity of tho inal. The responsibility Is up0r| people of Georgia to protect th<| of her citizens and to maint9II dignity of her laws, and if the ~ must be made between the apr ton of citizens of other states the enforcement of our laws a< offenders we must choose the alternative"
 Submitted Case to Jury.
 Admitting that there was lin feeling" when the time came Franks trial, Governor Slaton calls that Frank went to trial out asking a change of venue submitted his case to a jury thal acceptable to him.
 During the progress of the t| the statement continued: 'After| dence had been introduced Iayin1 crime with many offensive d} upon Frank, the feeling a-ssinst| became intense, but it is added it would be difficult for an late court or a trial court to & B new trial in such a long case cause the audience in the court q on a few occasions indicated sym pathies. x K K Nothing done which the courts could cnI through legal machinery
 Charges Against State Unfair
 The governor pointed out tha1 United States Supreme court had aimed this ruling. He declared { ,harge against the state of Ge< 'f racial prejudice was unfair
 Two Hearings Held.
 Two hearings were held herd ranks application for e1ec Iemency. one before the state p May 3l. and the otheI ore the governor, ending June Before the prison Commission ! rgument on Franks behalf was y his counsel and by jurists, lau nd prominent citizens of Geo| linois and Massachusetts. and ons fer commutation, as well Fl ldividuai letters were presented le commission. In oppositiod le application there were flied d IT from Solicitor Dorsey who ,uted Frank, and a protest { tizens of Cobb county, Ga. r ary Phagan formerly lived 'mmission recommended af& 
 Worked for New Trial. Franks counsel, prior to the c|| icy appeal. had made seven un| ssful attempts before the conntx. rior and state supreme cpurt Jain a new trial of to hayx ahs ct set aside. The federaI 1Iz/ urt refused to grant ~fIf . .beas corpus and fhe United SI| preme court declined to nrnn| Continued on Eleventh Pats.