Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-21
Condemned Man Secretly
Removed TO State
Prison Farm.
GE0RGIA'S EXECUTIVE
APPEALS TO PEOPLE
II Would Be a Murderer if | AL
lowed Hanging He
Declares.
ATLANTA CROWDS SHOW
DlSAPPROVAL OF DECISION

ATLANTA, Ca, June 21.-Leo NJ.
Franks death sentence was COM
muted to life Imprisonment today by
Governor Slaton. Announcement of
the governors decision came several
hours after Frank had been secretly
taken from the Jail here and hurried
to the State prison farm at Milledge-
Vile. Frank was sentenced to be
hanged here tomorrow for the mur-
der of Mary Phagan in April, 1918.
Governor Slaton still was at his
country home when he announced
the decision. In making the an
nouncement the governor dictated
the follwing brief statement.
"All that l ask is that the people of
Georgia read my statement of the rea-
sons why 1 commnted Leo NJ. Franks
death sentence to life imprisonment be-
fore they pass Judgment.
tFeeliDg / do about this case.
would be a murderer If 1 allowed this
man to hang. 1t means that must live
In obscurity the rest of my days, but
would rather be plowing In field than
to feel for the rest of my life that i had
that mans blood my hands,
When early reports that Franks
sentence had been commuted began
to circulate crowds began to gather
ON the principal downtown street
corners. The arrest of a man who
attempted to dismount a policeman
by grabbing the horses reins stirred
one crowd to excitement, and they
followed officers to the city hall,
block away. Speakers started to
harangue the crowd from the city
hall steps, but were stopped by an
extra force of police. 1t was stated
that delegation was coming from
Marietta. the former home of Mary
Phagan ~ -
= The first official announcement of
the governors decision was made at
8:42 o'clock this morning. Extra edi-
tons of the local newspapers contain
ing the unofficial announcement
caused considerable excitement among
. number OF crowds of men who gath
cred on various street corners and
around City Hall. Mounted police and
patrolmen were stationed on the out
skirts of the crowd and at least one
arrest was made. Comment disprov-
ing the decision was heard in the
gatherings.
Although crowds Of the streets dis
cussing the Frank case did not ap-
pear so excited as the day wore on,
the police ordered all near-beer sa-
looms closed shortly before IL o'clock
and an extra 100 policemen were put
on duty. Orders were issued to i'm
mediately arrest anyone attempting
to incite violence.
Frank was secretly removed from
the county Jail here shortly after mid
night and taken under heavy guard
to the State prison farm at Milledge-
willie, upon orders of Governor Sla-
ton.
This step was the first indication
that Governor Slaton had ordered
Communication of sentence. The gov
ernor would not admit having Or
dered Communication even after being
informed that Sheriff Mangum had
announced that Franks sentence had
been commuted "for the time being"
Franks removal from the Jail here
was carefully planned and the Off
GERS were able to elude newspaper
men and others who might have rec
ognized their prisoner. Leaving the
Jail by rear door shortly before mid
night they went in an automobile to
the terminal station, where a deputy
purchased tickets for the party to
Macon. Frank was not handcuffed
and was without the heavy spectacles
he usually wears. A black slouched
hat was pulled down over his face.
The few persons who we're in the
railway station at the time failed to
recognize him, and it was more than
an hour after midnight before the re-
port was circulated that he had been
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