White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-29

Story Of Franks Execution. !.
The first actual story Of all that
transpired on the death ride of Leo
M. Frank from Miredgeyille, to Ma
rietta between midnight and dawn
Tuesday moning became available to
the Associated Press at Atlanta. Sun
day. The recital did o come
through second or third hands, but
in a manner which seemingly placed
its authenticity beyond a question.
The inside story of the events
which preceded the finding of Franks
lifeless body swaying from the limb
of the biggest oak tree in the vicin-
ity by Bill" Frey's gin cleared up
many phases of the tragic incident
which heretofore have been yelled in
mystery.
Points asserted by the narrator
were:
First. Frank did not confess He
twice was asked if he had anything
to say, but on each occasion replied
NO" Asked pointedly If he killed
the Phagan girl, he is said to have
made no reply whatever.
Second-No attempt was made to
force a confession. Franks state
ment just prior to his death that he
loved his wife and mother better than
he did his life came Unexpectedly and
without questioning.
Third-Frank was not maltreated
in any way prior to the actual lynch
ing.
Fourth=Frank walked a distance
Of $50 yards from the automobile to
TIE death tree without a faltering
step; without a sign or semblance of
a protest.
Fifth-Frank was told from the
start that he was to be executed as
the courts had directed that he be,
and every effort was made by the So
called vigilance committee to see that
the, legal hanging" as they termed
the lynching, was carried out in an
orderly manner Members of the
vigilance committe" are said to re-
sent any intimation that Frank was
"maltreated" while in their custody.
Seven automobiles were required
to transport the vigilance commit
tee from Marietta co Milledgeville.
Only four returned. including the
a in which Frank rode. All of the
machines were small cars. There
were probably twenty-eight men in
the lynching party.
Four men entered Franks room
In the hospital ward after overpower-
ing the guards. The noise at the out
er door had awakened the prisoner.
but he was still lying in bed when
his room was entered by the self-ap-
pointed ex~ecuttoners, who wore hats
veil pulled down to meet the automo-
bile goggles, which served as masks.
We want you to come with u.s."
FRANK was tOi0.
There was neither surprise nor
terror in the look he tuned p the
four determined men, In silence
Frank arose and made az ii to dress
himself. He was still feeble from the
loss of blood, suffered in an attack
by a fellow convict. and swayed, per-
haps q little dizzily.
Don't bother with the clothes;
come just as you are" he was COM
manded.
INTERESTINGLY Frank permitted
himself to be handcuffed. Clad only
in a sleeping garment, he walked into
the prison corridor. When the party
had reached the prison porch the
leader rthought the progress was too
slow. It. was then Frank was picked
up and carried down the concrete
steps, 1t is s~trenuously denied that
Frank was dragged or bumped"
down the steps, and it is also denied
that one of the members of the party
Melpcu garry u1hA Ny ING AcA
For seven long hours Frank sat in
the automobile which was carrying
him to a death place of which he had
no knowledge:
Franks hatless, white-clad figure,
erect in the tonneau of the leading
car, wal in striking contrast to the
somber-hued men beside him. Al
though the roads we're black and
lonely. the glaring electric headlights
of the cars Following kept the first
car brilliantly Illuminated. The high
ways were deserted however. and
there were no passers-by to witness
the tragic procession that sped stead
lily along Id a race with the coming