The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-18
BIG CROWD GATHERS TO
VIEW DANGLING BODY
Held In Restraint BY Judge who
Rushes to scene.

MUSINGS 10 SCENE
MARIETTA, Ga. Aug. 17.-rAo N.
Franks body was found hanging Z a
tree less than two miles from here this
morning. az close 30 the birthplace Of
Mary Phagan. whose murder caused
Franks murder. as the lynohers dared to
bring him
After an all night automobile ride
from Marietta. Mary Phagan's self-ap-
pointed avengers performed the act OF
which there have been 20 many threats
In all parts OF rGhe State since Gov. Sla-
ton committed Franks sentence from
death to life imprisonment.
Shameful scenes followed the finding
of the body. There was a concerted
move on the part of some OF the most
hot a d citizens of this district to
mutilate publicly Franks body. but af-
ter half "a dozen OF the most prominent
citizens Of the county had spoken against
the plan II was dropped.
After the body had been a public
spectacle Cor two hours and fifteen min
utes. viewed by a crowd estimated at
5000, man of whom were women and
children. 1t was cut down. Men near
the body kicked the face with heavy
boots women within reach tore the shirt
sleeves 20 strips to save them as souve-
nirs.
Crowd Gathers Quickly.
The crowd gathered with rapidity.
Women came. children came. Even
babes In arms. The sight Of the body
swaying In the wind. with the red. gap
ing wound in the throat, made some
OF the women sick, and they woul
utter little shrleks and groans n urn
their heads.
One OF the first arrivals was a man
In a frenzy of passion. He was bare
headed, coatless. his eyes blazing like
the eyes OF a maniac. He ran through
the crowd. ran up to the body. threw
up his hands and lenched his fists and
shook them at the body. Then his hands
would open. his fingers would writhe
and his fsts would close again. and he
would shake them at the body.
Now, we've got you :" he screamed.
You won't murder any more innocent
little girls. We've got you now :"
The crowd yelled and packed closer.
At this juncture Il short. thickset man
ran up to the crowd. jostled his way
through and pushed up to a place be-
side the man who was cursing the body.
lie climbed up on something SO he
could see over the heads of the crowd.
Men. hear me-" he said.
IL was Newton A. Morris, former Judge
or the Blue Ridge Circuit. who had Just
arrived from Marietta with Attorney
John Wood Of Canton They were at
tending Alpharetta court. heard the
news early in the morning and came at
top speed to the scene.
Hear me, men," repeated Judge Nor
ris. The crowd became quiet. except for
a mumbling In an undertone by the man
beside the body.
Citizens Of Cobb county. listen to me.
will you?' said Judge Morris. They
gave a murmer of assent.
"Who ever did this thing" The
man beside the body broke In with a
shout
God bless him. whoever he was 20
Judge Morris laid his hand on the
mans shoulder and asked him to be
quiet for a few mute
Whoever did this thing" went on
Judge Morris, did n thorough lob"
The crowd whooped.
Judge Morris continued: Little Mary
Phagan IL indicated. Her foul murder
Is avenged. Now / ask you. / appeal to
you. in the good name OF our county,
not to do more. l appeal to you to let
the undertaken do II, Let all who are
in favor of giving this body over to the
undertaken say aye"
There was a chorus OF ayes
Now let all h oppose 1t say no."
said Judge Morris.
The man beside the body, at the top
o. his voice, yelled mo"
Judge Morris got down and ran back
through the crowd and began to call for
all undertaken. While he was calling
somebody laid a knife on the rope and
Franks body dropped to the ground.
At that instant the man who had
voted mo" ran forward and began kick
ing the body.
Again and again. as q man grlnds
the head of n snake under his heel, did
the man in his awful frenzy drive his
heel into the face of Leo Frank, grind
ing the black hair OF the dead man Into
the black dirt.
stop him! For Gods sake, stop
him." cried Judge Morris as he ran
up to the man and begged him TO stop,
A negro ran up to Judge Morris.
Here ! am, Judge" he said. Here's
the wagon"
Judge Morris gave orders and the
negro n another negro opened the
back end of the wagon and pulled out a
lens un~dertaker's basket and started
will 1t toward the body.
Bring the body Oh. men," shouted
Judge Morris bring II on"
But nono o fthem would pick IL up.
and Judge Morris. reckoning to the
negroes. wedged In and worked his way
toward the body until the negroes finally
go, hold OF II and started toward the
urCertaker's wagon,
Ar the wagon started toward Atlanta
a string OF automobiles. wagons
motorcycles and bicycles two miles long
followed.
II was about 3 30 O'Clock his morn
ing when II horse and buggy dashed into
the public square here, already crowded
with people discussing Franks Kid
mapping last night,