New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
Prison Farm Superintend-
ent Also Handcuffed
by the Lynchers.
"TRUSTY" FORCED
TO OPEN GATE
Official Tells How Doomed Man
Was Dragged Out and Car
ried Away in Automobile.


tack on the Georgia State Penitentiary
here last night by armed men in five
automobiles who took Leo NJ. Frank
from dormitory ana escaped with
him, was we'll organized.
For hours after the attack no trace
Of the automobiles bearing the party
could be found, but about daylight
newspape rmen picked up the trail near
Eatonton, Ga. on Little River. ). n
Jackson, a farmer, living near a bridge
said that soon after midnight he heard
several automobiles stop there. Soon
sfterward he heard loud talking, then
manv shots, and then the automobiles
started in the direction Of Eatonton'
Nothing was found to indicate what
caused the shots.
The armed men arrived in the vicin-
ity of the prison farm practically uh-
noticed and proceeded methodicaily TO
their business. All means of wire com
runication from the institution to Mill
edgeville, three miles away, were de-
stroved. and all wires, except one teie-
nbone line from Milledgeville, also
were cut
Warden Is Made Prisoner.
Five men went to the house Of war
den ]. T. Smith, awakened MN ana
made him prisoner. At the same time
q SQUAD of men went to the home OF D.
NJ. Burke, superintendent Of the farm
Burke was forced to go with them
70 the cate nearest the dormltory
where il was believed Frank was Kept
The two guards there were ordered
while guns were leveled at them TO
open the gates.
The party then rushed in, quickly
got Frank, and hurried him to one OF
the waiting automobiles. He was
forced down into the car, while one
man is said to have fourished rope
in front of him.
Those who had been guarding War
den Smith lett him and joined the party
at the gates. The automobiles then
started off swiftly in a nOrtherly di-
rection. =,
With only a limited number Of
guards at the prison and wire commu-
nication with Milledgeville interrupted,
immediate pursuit was impossible:
Some time elapsed before word could
be brought here and officers started IN
the direction taken by the party.
Before word came that Frank had
been lynched many persons 0elleVed
he had been taken away by his friends
and that the display Of the rope was
intended to cover the real intentions
of the party. Frank was sufficiently
recovered from the wound in his
throat, inflicted by another prisoner
a month ago, TO leave the prison hos
pital Sunday and take his place in the
sleeping quarters with the other pris-
oners.
Franks Seizure Described.
The seizure of Frank was described
to-day by Captain J. NJ. Burke, super
intendent of the prison farm. =.
81 was called to the door Just as l
was preparing to retire" ne sald,
when passed the threshold twS
strong men grabbed me and snapped
stood guard over me, two with shot
guns and two with heavy pistols. l
demonstrated and they declared 1t was
no use for me to squi:m, as they mad
come for Leo Frank and were going 10
get him.
81 told them that Frank was not at
nv house, and they said they knew
that, but that they were going to take
me where they knew Frank was quar-
tered. | was marched up to the penti-
Tertiary building by a guard, which
was doubled as we proceeded. When
we reached the building demand was
made that the gate be opened, and
when the trusty prisoner awaited OIL
fetal orders one of the men began cut
ting the wires and informed the prs
oner if he did not open the gate ne
would be killed as soon as an entrance
was effected.
"The gate was then unlocked, and 3
Hester, a night guard, came forward,
but he was Immediately covered ana
ordered to throw up his hands: nan
wav up the steps | was halted while
half a dozen men rushed by me ana
made a dash for Franks room.
Dragged Down Stone Steps.
"ore Of the prisoners who witnessed
this scene declared that four men TOOK
Frank by his arms and legs, while a
fifth grabbed him by the hair and he
was dragged out and bumped down the
stone steps. While | looked on Frank
aid not utter word, but apparently
was suffering intensely and groaned
from pain inflicted in handling him in
his wounded condition. The affair was
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