The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-19


preston of the sentiment Of the best
element Of the state:
The Lynching of Frank
The Iynching Of L. NJ Frank makes
a black chapter in the history of
Georgia. 1t is a chapter that every
Georgian who loves his state and is
proud of her achievements viii read I,
with feeling of regret and sorrow.
The question as 20 whether Frank
was guilty or innocent doesn't enter
into the matter. The question wheth-
er or not there was ground for COM
muting Franks sentence TO imprison-
ment for life isn't an issue. The sim
pie facts are that Frank was a pris-
oner of the state, was serving life
sentence in the states prison, and
mob of masked men broke into the
prison, carried him to a distant part
Of the state and in the early morn
ing hours hanged him until he was
dead.
1t is seldom that so great an out
rage against the peace and dignity of
a state is committed That such an
outrage blots the civilization of the
great state of Georgia is profoundly
regrettable. There isn't a citizen who
loves the state and holds her reputa-
ton dear, whether he sympathized
with Frank or believed that hanging
was too good for him, who doesn't
: deplore this lynching tragedy because
| it is a blot on the states good name
The state had Frank in its custody
e and it was responsible for his protec
= ton. 1t had tried him for heinou:
: crime, he had been found guilty anC
n sentenced to death, and his death sen
tence had been commuted to life i'm
prisonment. The state was bound u
see to it that the sentence was carrie'
I, out. The states authority was brush
ed aside and lynch law was substi
g tuted for it. The state was defied b
a the mob.
? And who was responsible for thi
6 failure of the state to uphold tn
y law? Unfortunately the states aU
II thorities. They had ample warnin
= that there was bitterly hostile fee
ing against Frank and therefor
> should have made provision for n
20 protection. Ope attempt had bee
= made on his life, an attempt that We
&c almost successful, and it was a ia
N conclusion that others would be mad
~ And there doesn't seem to hay
of been any special preparation made
80 defeat such attempts. Apparent
- the mob found no difficulty in reac
ho ing Frank at the prison farm and
e- carrying him away to be lynche
- Not as much difficulty was eXperien
ON ed in taking him from the state
as prison and the states authorities
:; a mob ordinarily encounters in takil
,rs prisoner from county sheriff
MT from a county Jail.
1t may be said that fear that
:, effort would be made to lynch Fra
: had died out and that for that reas
~ precautionary measures had been d
continued, but that statement will I
satisfy the people of Georgia W
:, feel that their state has been put
~ a bad light in the estimation of
u' whole world and who realize II
sharp and stinging criticisms will
leveled at her civilization.
'iu 1t isn't Frank they are think
- about nor his crime, nor his extra
liiii dinariIy sensational trial, nor the
W VS. plorable events that followed it. tt
Inc are thinking of their state and
harm that this lynching of a pl
Urn oner, whose case had attained natl
wide Importance, will do it, and thi
ing of that they feel that the C
necessary for safeguarding the p1
ne oner was not exercised-that tn
he was a lack of efficiency and of fl
oP ing of responsibility somewhere.
7" The governor says that he '
'eu' make every effort to discover
10 lynchers and bring them to just
anu He is expected to do that and if h'
less successful he will strike a blow
'eu lynch law that will have a lasting
ouI feet and be a blessing to the ST
acn We cannot hope to have a full me
ure of success for our efforts to m
gn. this a great and prosperous comm
u wealth if mob law flOurishes in
ia'e borders. If prisoners can be ia
hgs out of her-prison by a mob and lyr
oo ed when Communication of their :
otar tences doesn't meet with popular
proval.
oulo We shall hear it said that the c
NeI' mutation of Franks sentence was
uo encouragement of mob law.
COLI may be so, but that isn't the ques
ress that is confronting us now. The q
take ton is the incalculable damage
10 has been done the state, the peopl
lally the state, by a few lawless men.
only way to offset that damage
search out and punish the men
the put the blot on the states fair n
7-5t. and thus show that Georgia's CT
:" zation doesn't approve of lynch
-, or lawlessnes of any kind We '
FIN the world to understand that our
are Just and fair and that in
a of courts the scales Of justice are
of evenly.