The Washington times., 1915-06-01
COMMUTAT|ONF FOR
!" FRANK EXPECTED
Prison Boards Decision Within
Week Forecast As For
Mercy. q>

ATLANTA. June IA recommenda-
tion by the State prison commission to
the governor on Leo M. Franks appli-
cation for a Communication from the
death sentence to life imprisonment is
looked for before the end of next week.
None of the commissioners will discuss
the case The governor, too, Is silent.
1t Is generally believed that the
recommendation will be favorable.
The hearing, which had been expected
to last several days. ended abruptly last
night owing to the prosecutions fallure
to answer Franks plea.
Attorney William M. Howard, IN CLOS
ing, pointed to the mass of data and
petitions piled up before the three COM
missioners and said:
1--WE ask clernency in the name Of
Rrace and in the name of mercy. Our
appeal Is based on a doubt inherent in
the very nature of the case. We refer
that mass Of record and petition to you.
We have perfect confidence that Leo
Frank will not hang. Your humani-
A long list Of notables appeared be-
fore the commission to protest against
the execution. Among them was ex-
Gov. Eugene n. Foss of Massachusetts,
with Ernest II. Gruening, managing edi-
tor of the Boston Traveller. and DR.. J.
w. Coughlin. ex-mayor Of Fall River.
who composed a committee representing
the thousands who had signed the Mas
sachusetts petition.
Appeal of 100000 Women.
The appeal Of a woman. who declared
that che came in behalf Of o.000
women who made only the woman's
plea-mercy-brought tears into the
eyes of Mrs. Leo NJ. Frank. wife OF the
convicted man. who, with his mother
and father. Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. Frank. at
tended both sessions of the hearing.
The speaker was Mrs. Mary Delaney
Fisher. writer Of Chicago, who came
with the delegation from that city.
I'VE women know nothing of argu-
ment.' she said briefly: and we know
n0d aohns Of aw reav I'VE bns hays
we have a fund Of feeling that makes
up for a lack Of anything else. We
can discern Justice. and the. 2Oo, 1000
hear woman's greatest plea for mercy"
The outstanding feature of the hear
Ing was the introduction Of a letter
written by the late Judge Roam. who
presided at Franks trial In which the
Judge urged that Frank be not exc
cuted. as there was grave doubt Of his
guilt.
the criminal court of Cook county. pre-
sented petitions from Chicago and from
the States Of Iowa. Wisconsin, Illinois,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. Kentucky,
Washington, California. Michigan. Ten
nessee. Louisiana, and Texas, and the
total number of names signed to all
was given by Judge O'Connor as more
than 100000.
Letter From Coroner.
A surprising turn was taken in the
hearing when a letter recommending
commutat ton for Frank was read from
Coroner Paul Donehoo. under whose
supervision the coroner's jury in the
early stages Of the Frank case had
remanded him to prison to await action
for the grand Jury. Coroner Donehoo
wrote:
II am not convinced Of Franks
guilt"
Former Congressman Howard sum-
med up briefly for Frank. saying in
part:
This case has not parallel in
judicial annals of the State. Conley
has been believed rather than US. and
we have been doubted. That is the
sum of the entire case. Never in the
history of this State has there been
an instance where low, vicious negro
has been believed against the character
and testimony of exemplary whites.
And It Is the instinct that revolts
against just such circumstances that
has brought the wealth Of character to
our aid from communities all over the
nation. 1t is an American instinct that
rebels against such horror and the
that we humbly ask you to intercept"
Solicitor General Dorsey. who prose-
cuted Frank. was not present at the
hearing, nor was he represented.