The weekly soliphone., 1915-07-23
FRANKS THROAT IS
CUT BY A CONVICT
Cellmate Used Butcher Knife With
Deadly Effect on Noted At
lanta Character.

Milledgeville, Ga, July l9.-Leo
M. Frank lay in the Georgia state
prison hospital last night with what
attendants said was fighting
chance for recovery. Physicians
had succeeded in stopping the flow
of blood from a jagged wound in
his throat, made with an improvis-
cd knife in the hands of William
Green, a fellow convict, also serving
life term for murder. The blow
was struck as Frank slept in his
bunk in a dormitory late Saturday
night.
This latest and most spectacular
phase of the two-year fight for
Franks life. may be the subject of
an investigation by the Georgia
prison commission, the same body
that refused to recommend that
Franks death sentence for the muir
der of Mary Phagan be committed
to life imprisonment.
Reports from Atlanta were that
Gov Harris intimated yesterday he
would start such an investigation
20 ascertain if Green acted entirely
of his own volition.
Green said yesterday, when TAX
en- from solitary confinement long
enough to be question, that he plan
ned the attack alone and that no
one knew what he intended to do.
He was not communicative and
gave as his only excuse that che
thought it should be done" He said,
however, that he regretted his act.
Frank was quartered at night in
dormitory with about 100 other
prisoners and occupied a bunk
about 40 feet from one of the two
doors to the large room. Green's
Junk was fourth from his. No
prisoner is allowed to leave his
place without permission from one
Of the two guards stationed at the
dormitory at night.
MRS. FRANK HISTORICAL.
Shortly after II o'clock Satur-
lay night Green called out for per-
mission to get up>and it was grant
ed. He started down the line of
hunks toward the one occupied by
frank. AS he reached it he quick
ly grabbed Frank by the hair and
delivered one blow with the knife
he had concealed.
The attack was witnessed by the
guard, who rushed to the bunk and
prevented Green from striking
again. Green was overpowered, and
among prisoners who rushed to
Franks aid were two physicians,
one of whom also was serving a
life term for murder.
The two convict physicians gave
first aid and treated the wound I'M
til DR.. Guy Compton, the prison
physician was summoned from his
home half a mile away The three
men took rs stitches in Franks
throat.
DR.. H. J. Rosenberg, the Frank
family physician, arrived from At
lanta yesterday with nurses. He
said that while his condition is
precarious he has a chance for life.
Mrs. Frank was in Milledgeville
at the home of ]. NJ. Burns. She
was not told of the attack until
after the physicians had finished
their work. She became hysterical,
but later was Gained and was taken
to the prison hospital.
CONCEALED THE KNIFE.
The cut extends from the front
of the neck around the left side to
almost the middle of the back of
the neck. Neither the windpipe or
the spinal cord is hurt, but the
jugular vein is partly severed. The
physicians greatest fear last night
was some of the stitches might
slip, causing more loss of blood.
Frank has benefited great deal
by the outdoor life since being
brought to the farm June 81.
Though a small man he always has
had rugged constitution and that,
coupled with his exercise of the
last three weeks, are in his favor,
the doctors said. He took some
nourishment yesterday.
Frank knew of the demonstra-