The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-25

ASSOCIATED PRESS ACCOUNT OF
RIDE BEFORE LYNCIiING.
Narrator Describes Trip from Mil
lcdgcyillc to- Marietta and Illegal
Hanging of PrisOncr-Frank Had
Nothing To say. Says Account.

Atlanta, Ca. Aug. 22-The frs,
actual story of all that transpired or
the death ride Of Leo NJ Frank
from Milledgeville to Marietta be-
tween midnight and dawn last Tues
day morning became. available tC
the Associated Press today. The
recital did not come through second
or third hands, but In manner
which seemingly placed it's authen-
ticity beyond all question. The mar
rator. however. will not be a witness
before the Cobb county grand Jury
which on September 1 will be asked
to undertake thorough investiga-
ton of the lynching OF the man al
legged to have been the slayer Of lit
tie Mary Phagan. 1t became known
today that Gov. Nat Il. Harris dur
ing the past few days has received
several anonymous threatening let
ters purporting to warn him not to
go too far In his investigation of
the lynching. The governor is not
inclined to take the letters at all
seriously. but looks upon them as
the outgrowth Of the disturbed sem
timent OF the moment.
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 vicinity of Bill Frey's gin
cleared up many phases of the
tragic incident. which heretofore
have been veiled in mystery.
First. Frank did not confess. He
twice was asked IL 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 tt
force confession. Franks state.
ment just prior to his death that nc
loved his wife and mother better
than he did his life came unexpect-
edly and without questioning.
Third. Frank was not maltreated
in any way prior to the actual lynch
Ing. Stories that he may have met
violent death before hanged to the
Frey tree are without foundation.
Fourth. Frank walked a distance oil
200 yards from the automobile to tn,
death tree without a faItering step,
without n sigh or semblance OF a pro
test. Fearing perhaps that his bod,
might never reach his relatives. ht
asked that the wedding ring he wor,
be delivered to a newspaper man will
the solemn promise that it would b,
turned over to his wife. This wisl
vas carried out.
Fifth. Frank was told from tn,
start that he was to be executed
,s the courts had directed that ht
he and every effort was made to Sc,
that the legal hanging" as the mob
termed the lynching. was carried on,
In an orderly manner. Members arc
said to resent any intimation that
Frank was 'maltreated" while in
their custody. They assert he was
given exactly the same consideration.
usually given to q condemned man on
the day OF his execution. The rough
handling of the body after it was cut
down was matter concerning which
members of the mob feel they were
not responsible.
Sixth. The members of the party
felt they had sacred duty to per-
form in carrying out the mandate
OF the courts OF the state and of the
United States" There was no moi
spirit. no demonstration. and ther,
Is said to have been no idea of hang
ing Frank in the public square at
Marietta or in the cemetery where
Mary Phagan is buried. There was.
however, "a determination that the
execution should take place i'm Cobb
county. Inasmuch as all the mem
bers of the party are said to be resi-
dents of Cobb county the reason for
this Is obvious.
Seven automobiles were required to
transport the mob from Marietta to
Milledgeville. Only four returned, in
cluding the car i'm which Frank rode
All OF the machines were small cars
OF popular make. These cars were
specially selected because Of the dfn.
Guilty I'm Identifying them. No car ot
conspicuous color or design wa.
wanted. There were probably 90 mer
in the lynching party.
The machines left Marietta singl,
during the afternoon of Monday las
and IL was shortly after 10 o'clocl