The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-09-02
PAGE EIGHT

IL
who came West to attend the Dixie day celebra-
ton at the exposition, startled his hearers by
rushing to the defense of the lynching of Leo
M. Frank
In an address delivered with great feeling he
sounded warning to former Governor John M.
Slaton against returning to Georgia He declared
in impassioned terms that the mob who took
Frank from the Georgia penal farm got the
who murdered Mary Phagan. Mayor Woodward
said
81 am going to take occasion tonight to tell
of the events that have put Georgia the map
in very undesirable light. [ going to
deavor to put you right People throughout
the United States have obtained their ideas of
the Frank from poisoned and subsidized
press and press reports.
Common decency prevents me from telling
you of the revolving truths of the murder of Mary
Phagan. [ wish you all knew the truths as
know them. / know them, for I have been with
the since it started, and I have read
every line of evidence that has introduced; every
thing that has transpired / know and I know
that there is not a member of the jury that tried
Leo Frank who, from the time it rendered the
verdict to this day, have any idea that they would
change their decision if put to the test again
Must Suffer For Acts.
Georgia is the leading State of the South It's
people cannot be classed with tramps hoodlums
bandits and lawbreakers but things had to
a point where every avenue Of the law had been
exhausted and the judgment of the courts set
aside by man. and the people felt it was up
to them to take the law in their hands.
Georgia is a State where, when the virtue
chastity and honor Of woman has been violated
the man who does it is going to suffer. We have
learned bitter lesson through the vicious prac-
tees of the negro of the South, and when the oc=
casion arises in which woman has been wronged
our citizenship ignores the law and metes out
swift punishment.
Deplore Deed
"While we people of Georgia deplore this deed
of Monday night, we know what is behind the
feeling that prompted it, and l want it under
stood that it is simply emphasizing the fact that
when it comes to woman's honor there is no limit
we will not go to avenge and to protect.
''There were only two people implicated in the
death of Mary Phagan. I know the negro did not
commit the deed and am positive that rs per
cent of the people of Georgia are convinced that
the man lyncbed Monday night committed the
deed, and they are on the ground and ought to
know.
isn't it queer that the attorneys interested in
the defense Of Frank rushed their case through
the highest court and rushed it back to Georgia
as fast they could in time for a Governor VINO
was retiring from office to act upon? 1t is hard
to convict of any crime where fortunes are
spent for the defense of the accused, but in face
of the great fight made, in which one OF the law
yers was a former law partner of the retiring
Govrnor, a conviction was obtained
Got Tons of Letters.
GAS Mayor of Atlanta I have received tons and
tons of letters petitions and requests asking that
something be done for Frank, and they have all
gone into the waste basket for like all Georgia
people who are in a positio nto get at the truth,
l knew the facts.
GAS Mayor of Atlanta a position which have
held for eight years-and I have two years more
to SerVe-l cannot sit Idly by ana see the TAR
name of my city and State dragged in the mire.
I want to put my city and State in the right light
and have the nerve to do it. will be home in
less than a week and I go back feeling
have done my duty.
Knows SlatOn.
81 know Jack Saton, have known him for
thirty years, since he young man.
have been friends with him, and while hate to
say it, / would not advise him to return to G3Or-
gia for a year--f ever. The bulk of the people
may understand him and may realize and believe
he did what he thought right, but am afraid
there are some who will resent his acts through
out all the years to come.
'FI am sorry the lynching occurred, but