The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-08-21
LEO nj. FRANK LYNCHED
A Stain on American Civilization


On August II, the entire country was
shocked by a report of the lynching Of Leo
NJ Frank near Marietta, Georgia
Shortly before midnight on the night of
August 16, mob surprised the guard
sleeping in hunks surrounding the prison
where Frank was retained, and dragged
him from the dormitory. Placing him in
an automobile, they rushed him to spot
more than one hundred miles from the
state prison farm, where his body was
found hanging from tree, at daylight.
The American people are familiar with
the way in which Frank was convicted of
the murder Of Mary Phagan by pre-
JUDGED Atlanta jury, and sentenced to
death. He was superintendent Of the Ma
tional Pencil company, in the basement of
which building the girls body was found,
and the evidence was circumstantial.
The manner of conducting his trial
was grossly unfair, and the judge who
sentenced him afterward expressed doubt
Of his guilt Frank was jew and it is
thought this had much to do with creating
prejudice against him. Repeated attempts
were made to secure new trial, but these
were baffled A plea for writ Of habeas
corpus in the Federal District court and,
finally, in the Supreme court, also failed.
Just before the date set for his exc
cution, his sentence was commuted to life
Imprisonment by Governor Slaton, al
though for days afterward the governor
himself was besieged by a mob for doing
so.
Removed to the state prison farm, a fell
low convict crept to the side Of Frank S
bunk in the dead Of night, and horribly
sIashed his throat. From this wound he
was just recovering at the time OF his re
moval at the hands Of mob.
His lynching is characteristic of the pre-
judice and lawlessness prevailing in that
part Of the United States. Such an act is
an inefaceable stain on American civil
ization, and is condemned in the most un-
measured terms by prominent people
throughout the country.
Mrs j. F. Fitzgerald, honorary president
Of the Daughters Of the Confederacy, in
speaking of the matter, said
''The lynching Of Frank is as much a
disgrace to the state Of Georgia as if the
state had hung him in the first place. |
do not. think, and never have thought he
was guilty. Any one who has read the
evidence and watched the case closely can
see that he was convicted on prejudice,
rot on evidence
The same view has been voiced by thou
sands of eminent people, including con
gressmen, judges Of the court, lawyers,
etc, all over the land.
the lynching was deeply shocked and in
dignant.
FFThe act was a consummate outrage,
said Mr. Slaton, and every man engaged
in the lynching should be hanged, for he
is an assassin. Such an act is contrary to
the civilization Of Georgia, and one which
every good citizen will condemn.
II could not use language too condemn
atory. [ believe the governor OF Georgia
will use all the power Of the state to pun
ish the malefactors who disgraced the civil
ization Of Georgia.
"Their act was one Of cowardice, which
belongs alone to the assassin.
II am shocked and Mortified beyond ex-
preston. Any man who approves OF THIS
action Of the mob Of murderers IS un-
worthy to be Georgian.
"Any man or newspaper which con-
dones this offense ought to be driven out
Of the state. But the conduct OF this mis-
cradle mob Of assassins is the conduct OF
the same sort Of people who shoot man
from behind fence, or murder woman
from cowardly heart.