Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-08-21
Governor Takes Action
Which May Bring De
sirable Results.
$500 is THE AMOUNT
Georgia Prison VIII Have
More Officials and
Guards Hereafter.

ATLANTA, Ca Aug. l9.-Gov-
ernOr Harris tonight proclaimed re-
ward of 81 500 for the first three Dor-
sons convicted of participation i'm the
lynChing Of Leo NJ. Frank. At the
same time he issued a statement de-
claring he would do all in his power
10 apprehCud the perpetrators of the
unfortunate occurrence" In defense
OF the state authorities the governor
pointed out that the prison farm from
which Frank was abducted vas not
constructed to withstand attack from
he outside and declared that the
complete % secrecy with which the
lynchers made their careful prepara-
tions made impossible any defense
which might have saved the prisoner
1t is not believed any further ac-
ton Will be taken in the way" of an
investigation at the state prison The
members of the state prison commits
sion were on a visit to the institution
when the attack occurred and have
held that the prison officials we're
powerless to prevent the attacking
party from carrying out its purpose.
The Statement.
Governor Harris statement in part
when Mr. Franks sentence was
commuted by Governor Slaton to life
Imprisonment he was sent to the state
larm, for the purpose of being de-
llNefed to the prison commission at
that point. He could have been sent
by the commission 10 one of the
county chain gangs of the state or
put to work in the prison, in the dis
cretion of the commission.
The excitement which attended his
entrance in the prison was such that
u1GnuSlfInn
away from it seemed safe or advis-
able AS after events have shown
there was really no gang in Georgia
where he would have been secure.
The state penitentiary, as it is
called, was not built with the idea OF
preventing an attack from the out
side. Any determined body of men
would be able to effect an entrance.
The vast building was full of win
doWs both in the basement and main
story. IL was like a dormitory; one
great sleeping apartment. The pris-
oner worked out on the farm in the
day and occupied the dormintOry at
night The cots stood side by side
in easy proximity.
More Guards Needed.
an my consultation with the prison
over Mr.. Frank we felt
and thought Of the need of more
guards, more wardens but the idea
was that these were needed to pre-
vent his fellow prisoners from hurt
ing him. Outside attack was not
considered in this. Such danger was
thought to be small after the first
month. 1t was believed that if a
prison guard could hold an attack
ing party in check long enough to
get word to the authorities the pris-
ha
authorities were close at hand and
here was in readiness one of the
'est military companies in the state
within two miles of the prison
THE complete secrecy of the. move
nent; the careful preparation; the
'utting II the telephone and telegraph
wires prevented any expected assis-
ance and enabled the attack to sue
eed.
some four weeks ago I received an
larm in the form of g secret message
o the effect that a mob intended to
torn the prison and lynch Frank on
certain night | at once telephoned
ariOus authorities and Captain Ennis
# the Baldwin rifles, | Immediately
lad General Nash get in readinessoto
andle any local situation that might
rise For this course l incurred con-
iderable Censure, for the alarm
etmcd 10 be entirely untOunded.
1T has come to light since the re-
ult Of Monday nights work that my
rompt action in this matter delayed
he lynching Of the prisoner for
month as the mob, coming to within
few miles of Milledgeyille and hear
lg Of the preparations, decided to
Ostpone the attack
There is no man in the bounds Of
he state that regrets more than I do
his unfortunate occurrence. | shall
o all in my power to discover and
ring to justice the perpetrators"