The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1915-06-25
FRANKS SENTENCE
COMMITTED TO LIFE
cLEMENcY GRANTED PRISONER
CONDEMNED FOR MURDER OF
MARY PHAGAN.
GOVERNOR FEARS VIOLENCE
Georgia Executive Is Threatened by
Mobs Reported Bent on Vengeance
Police Prepared for Violently
Hostile Demonstrations.

Atlanta, Ga, June 23.-With several
hundred men and. boys clamoring to
get into the front gates of his country
home on Peachtree road which had
been barricaded with barbed wire en-
tanglements and threatening to over
power 20 county policemen, armed
with riot guns. Governor Slaton called
out the militia late at night for pro-
lection.
Upon the arrival of four companies
of state guardsmen which had been
held under arms and rushed to the
estate in automobiles, the governor
proclaimed martial law in a district
extending a half mile in front Of
his home, half mile back and for a
distance of about quarter of mile
on either side.
Throw Stones at Soldiers.
When the soldiers lined up with
fixed bayonets to dispense the crowd,
stones, bricks and bottles were thrown
at them. A brick struck Lieutenant
Arnold Parker in the stomach and rem!
dered him unconscious for a short
time A bottle thrown at Private w.
w. Foope struck his gun and cut his
hand.
The commanding officer, Major Ca
tron, was struck by a stone as were
several of the men.
The governor proclaimed martial
law at exactly II o'clock and by mid
night the crowd had virtually been dis
persed There was no firing.
A telephone message from Milledge-
vile, where the state prison farm is To-
Gated and where Leo M. Frank was
taken after Governor Slaton had COM
muted his death sentence to life inn
prisonment, said that trouble was
feared there and asked that the gov
ernor order out the MilledgeVille COM
pany of militia.
The governor told his informant that
such request would have to come
from the sheriff of Baldwin county.
At midnight the sheriff had not re-
quested troops.
Atlanta, Ca, June 22.-Leo M.
Franks death sentence has been com.
muted to life Imprisonment by Cover
nor John M. Slaton. Announcement
of the governors decision came sew
eral hours after Frank had been Sc
cretly taken from the Jail here and
hurried to the state prison farm at
Milledgeville. Frank was sentenced to
be hanged here for the murder of
Mary Phagan in April, 1913.
First news of the decision appeared
in extra editions of the papers just
after breakfast.
Prepared for Demonstration.
At first the public's attitude was I'M
expectedly calm. Officials had pre-
pared for a violently hostile demon
stration. Surprised, but gratified, they
thought for time that their arrange
ments had been unnecessary. Later
developments showed their original
guess to have been the correct one.
AS the news circulated crowds began
to gather in the street, the police be-
came active at once. Mounted officers
tried to keep the throngs on the move.
Policemen on foot packed the city hall
and postoffice.
Police Chief Beavers ordered 220
beer saloons and 20 clubs closed, fear
Ing drinking might lead to serious vi
olence in connection with the Frank
case.
Five Mountaineers Arrested.
Five mountaineers from Marietta
county, where Mary Phagan lived, re,
fused pointblank to move on" from
the vicinity of the Grady monument
and were promptly arrested.
But what can they do?" someone
asked, with Frank four hours ride
away?"
Its not Frank they're talking about
its Governor Slaton," said police
captain.
A mob, several hundred strong.
marched from the downtown section to
the capitol to see the governor. The
governor. however, was not at the cap,
itol. He remained outside Atlanta,
communicating with the city's authori,
ties by telephone and messenger.