The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-08-26

sentation because of the execution of Frank
has been started by the same papers, out OF
the State, that misrepresented us before
sfrank was sent to the prison farm at Mill
edgeville.
Ochs, of the New York Times, has the
following editorial:
Georgia's Shame.
The State of Georgia should either apprehend
the murderers OF Leo M. Frank and punish them
according to it's laws, it's people should honor
them by election to the chief judicial and admin
istrative Offices in their gift. Any halfway course
will be cowardly evasion. Either the lynehers
: OF Frank faithfully represent public opinion in
Georgia or they do not represent it. If Georgia
approves lynching, then honors bestowed upon
the lynchers would attest at once the shameless
courage of the Georgia public and it's willingness
to defy public opinion in all the other States of
the Union We must assume, however, that the
prevailing feeling in the State of Georgia is one
OF horror and execration of the crime. If that
is the case the lynchers will be punished
That they must be punished, that their arrest
and punishment is supreme necessity for the
people OF Georgia, is perfectly obvious If Frank
had desired to wreak his revenge upon the State
Of Georgia for it's inhuman prosecutions and
denial of justice he could not by any possibility
have devised more certain and dreadful method
Tor the accomplishment of his purpose. The
crime is a stain upon the reputation of the State
which can be erased in only way. Ex-Gover-
nor Slaton says that these malefactors have 'ds-
graced the Commonwealth" that the deed sis an
attack civilization" Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels. Southern man, says that cit is the
worst possible blot on the name of the State"
Governor Harris declares that cit will hurt Geor-
gia greatly everywhere and what is more to the
purpose he will use every means in his power "to
see to it that the members of the mob receive
lifting punishment for their crime" 1t is the
most atrocious 1ynching ever committed in any
Southern State. Frank had been tried for the
murder Of Mary Phagan, he had been than
once condemned to death. On appeal the courts
afforded him no relief. Governor Slaton having
!. before him much vital evidence not put before
the jury in the trial court committed the death
sentence to life Imprisonment. The evidence did
not convince him that Frank was guilty That
Frank innocent has been the firm conviction
Of many impartial men who have inquired into
the circumstances of the crime Yet these lynch
ers, fired with the detestable spirit of the mob
that from the time of the murder has\ ragged
against Frank, have oVerruled Governor SIaton
and put Frank to death. The annals of lynchings
in the South record no parallel case. Yet the
responsibility must be placed, primarily not upon
the participants in the crime, but upon the
spicuous and wel-known men who from the be-
A~S1nn1ng have shown a black-hearted ferocity in
their demand for the execution of Frank. They
are the men who inspired the mob to do it's work,
they are the instigators of the crime.
No 1aW-abiding community, really civilized
community, would consent to live its life with
this hideous blot upon it. The punishment of
lynchers is extremely rare in the South but in
this case Georgia must punish the lynchers or
put up for all time with the oblOquy attaching to
their crime. Surely, the decent people of Geor-
gia must support the Governor in his intention to
mete out due punishment, for it is only in that
way that they free the reputation Of the State
from the odium which has been brought upon it.
Only in that way can the people of Georgia atone
for the shame and humiliation they have brought
upon the whole country by permitting mob to
override the laws The bar of Georgia should
make itself the leader in the effort to absolve
Georgia from the deep discredit of this monstrous
act. Many members of the Georgia bar share the
very widespread belief that Frank innocent.
They have professional interest in putting down
the spirit of lawlessnesa, they have an individual
interest and duty citizens in clearing the name
of their State from this shame.
While the New York World-the sheet Of