Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-06-22
FRANK WILL
NOT HANG.

AS was stated yesterday in the Ga
zette, Leo M. Frank convicted OF
numbering Mary Phagan, the pretty
fourteen-year-old girl in the Atlanta
pencil factory in 1913, has escaped
the gallows, Governor Slaton having
committed the sentence to life i'm
prisonment. Frank is now attired in
prison garb and at work in a-cotton
field.
Governor Slaton, whose term of of
flee, expires this week, is the target
of adverse criticism, and regiment
of soldiers was called out last night
to protect him from mob violence.
Public sentiment is at fever heat,
and there is no telling what may re-
suit.
The Governor is making every eff
fort to calm the excited populace,
but it will take some time to force
back the tide of hostility of those
who had demanded FRANKS blood.
Governor Slaton, in announcing his
decision to commute Franks sem
tcnce, made brief statement in
which he said:
"All that | ask is that the people
of Georgia read my statement of
the reasons why / committed the
death sentence to life imprisonment
before they pass judgment. Feeling
as do about this case, I would be a
murderer if | allowed this man to
hang. 1t means that l must live in
obscurity the rest of my days, but |
would rather be blowing in a field
than to feel for the rest of my life
that | had that mans blood on my
hands. The mob can come and tear
me to pieces, but | will know that |
have done what should be done to
follow the right and uphold the honor
of Georgia and the office hold. |
couldn't hang any man when there
was a doubt as to his guilt. / could
not 81 like Pontius PLATE and turn
Frank over to be executed"
According to the laws of Georgia,
the Governor is vested with the pow
CIR to review all cases where persons
are convicted Of crime, and if, in his
Judgment, mistakes have been made,
to set aside verdict by pardoning
the condemned or mitigating their
punishment. This is the law in all
States. and is safeguard against
judicial murders, which are liable to
occur even in the best regulated
communities. Governor Slaton has
simply exercised prerogative given
him by the constitution of his state.
He has been compelled to pass
through trying ordeal and has made
close study Of this famous case. He
has been placed by his own constitu-
ents as buffer between death for
the best reasons, and had he not acted
conScientiously and according to his
own convictions, as we believe he has,
he would truly have been as Pontius
PLATE when tie latter allowed him
self to be Swayed by a fierce mob
The punishment melted out to Frank
by the Governor is severe, especially
to a member Of a commercial race,
which places much value upon free
dom. Possessed of business edu-
cation and but short distance within
the portals of manhood, he will sore
ly Mss the opportunities afforded
others of his race to reap the
fruits of his genius.
Franks forefathers lived centuries
as abject slaves under cruel task
masters in the land of the Pharaohs.
and this young Hebrew must spend
the remainder of his life attired in
prison garh laboring in cotton fields,
environed by guards with loaded
rifles and 4 as much in dread of the
scourge as weres the chosen peopl,
In Mlzraim in the days of Moses.
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