Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-24
Quick Decision Rendered at
Coroner's Inquiry Into Frank
Case at Marietta, Ga.
NO TESTIMONY HEARD AS
TO LYNCHERS' IDENTITY
Witnesses Profess Ignorance of Ac-
tual Circumstances Surround
ing Hanging.

eleNen witnesses single clue as TO
the identity of any person connected
with the lynching of Leo NJ. Frank,
near this city last Tuesday morning.
the coroner's jury impaneled to in
quire into the matter rendered a ver-
dict today that Frank came to his
death by hanging at the hands of per-
sons unknown. The jury reached its
verdict in three minutes.
City and county officials testified they
had endeavored diligently to get at the
facts of the lynching. but SO far their
efforts had been of no avail.
"Of course you know these things
are kept pretty close and are hard to
find out said Mayor E. P. Dobbs of
Marietta.
None of Participants Identified.
Deputy Sheriff Hicks and City Mar
shall Looney stated they were working
hard on the case, but at this time
could throw no light on the identity
of the persons who participated in the
lynching.
The nearest to a disclosure as to what
happened in the oak grove near the
Frey gin came from j. A. Benson, a
Marietta merchant, who drove by the
place soon after the lynching party
had parked its automobiles by the road
side and had led Frank to the tree
where death awaited him.
Mr.. Benson said he had a pretty
good suspicion" as to what was going
on. but he did not stop to see it and he
did not recognize anybody in the party.
Text of Jury's Verdict.
The text of the jury's verdict was as
follows:
State of Georgia, Cobb county.
"In accordance with the inquisition
taken this 18th day of August, 1915.
gust 1915. before John A Booth. coro-
ner of said county. upon the body of
Leo NJ. Frank. who was hanged by the
neck until dead in cluster Of woods
about two miles east of Marietta. in
said county. and near what is known
as w. ]. Frey's gin. on the Roswell
public road, upon the oaths of DIR. w.
H. Perkinson, j. N: Can't, J. A. G.
Heard, B. V. Greer. J. F: Shaw and G.
A. Griffin. sworn according to law as
jurors and charged by John A.
Booth to inquire when and how
and in what manner the said
Leo NJ. Frank came to his death; that
the said jurors aforesaid make and
return the following presentments in
reference to the aforesaid matters and
things concerning which we were
sworn n to inquire By the hetssh said 10 John IA A
dence adduced at this inquest to this
our inquisition. and make the same
part of it.
oath say that Leo NJ. Frank did on
the 18th day of August. 1915. in said
county. come to his death by being
hanged by the neck until dead by un-
known parties"
Prior to the resumption here today
of his inquiry into the lynching of
Frank just a week ago, comparatively
10 In of fla D1o of
oner John Booth. The jury Of inquest
was impaneled just after Franks
body was cut down from the oak near
the William Frey ginhouse. At that
time members of the jury heard two
witnesses as to the identity of the
dead man and then adjourned until
today, SO that the inquest might pro-
ceed in a calmer atmosphere and to
permit the coroner to collect evidence.
Special counsel for the coroner was
provided by the county commissioners.
Few Witnesses Expected.
Coroner Booth had set 10 o'clock as the
hour for the jury to meet today at an
undertaking establishment. Just how
many witnesses were to be heard had not
been announced, but the general impress
sion for several days had been that they
would be few. Several persons said to
have seen the lynching party on the road
near Marietta were expected to tell what
they knew. but the likelihood of learning
the identity of any of the participants
in the affair has all along been regarded
as distinctly remote.
Some members Of the coroner's jury
it was said today, had expressed doubt
that they could reach at this time any
other conclusion than that Frank came
to his death at the hands Of parties un-
known" The lynching will be officially
called to the attention of the Cobb county
grand jury September l.
Crowd Is Accommodated.
When the time for the jury to as
semble arrived the coroner decided to
transfer the inquest to the county
courthouse in order to accommodate
the large crowd on hand to hear such
testimony as might be offered
Attorney John T. Dorsey of Marietta
was present as representative of the
state of Georgia. Solicitor Herbert Clay
tendance at court in Forsyth county.
Gordon Gam acted as special attor-
ney for Coroner Booth.
There was delay in beginning the
inquest, due to the tardiness Of an Of
! fetal stenographer.
There was some talk early in the day
of holding the inquest in executive
session. 1t was argued the witnesses
| might be more communicative in a
| closed session. The idea of secrecy
| however, was soon dismissed once the
| coroner, Acting Solicitor Dorsey and
| Special Counsel Gam heard of il.
County Residents on Jury. ,
| The jury was composed of six resi-
| dents of the county, DR.. W. H. Perkin-
son being the foreman.
DR.. c. D. Elder was the first witness
| called to the stand. He testified to
| viewing the body of Frank while it
| was still hanging in the oak grove near
| the Frey gin. DR.. Elder did not know
| Frank personally, but was told the body
| was his He was not present when the
body was cut down. When he arrived
| on the scene of the lynching the body
was still warm.
| DO you know any of the circum-
| stances surrounding the hanging?'
| asked Mr.. Dorsey.
Absolutely nothing" replied the wit
ness.
You were among the first to reach
the scene?"
| Yes, sir"
How many people were present
| when you arrived?"
! perhaps half dozen"
! Continued on second Page.)