New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18

rHENATioNAL WEEKLY
THE NATIONAL WEEKLY

River crossing. where shots had been
heard late al night.
II is now thought that the revolvers
emptied there were fired as ruse TO
draw the pursuit 10 that point and
rive the lvnchers a chance TO carry out
their threat of hanging Frank at Mary
Phagan's grave.
The Gordon Of guaIds which had
been thrown out about the cemetery at
the last meagre message which the
severed Milledgeville wire delivered
foiled that plan.
The place selected was about 200 yards
from the nearest house, although the
vicinity is not thickly settled. kesl-
dents of the neighborhood said they
had heard nothing unusual during the
night. A farmer living about two
miles from the scene Of the hanging
awoke at the sound Of several speed
ing automobiles His suspicious were
not aroused. -,
II is thought that Frank met his
death at daybreak. The long rlde
from MilledCeville would make the
hour close 10 dawn Fifty yards from
the road a suitable tree was found
and the shirt-clad victim bundled out
OF the car. Whatever traces ms
captors might have left were trampled
into dust by the crowd. With the
dawn the lynchers vanished.
In Marietta to-day there were eN'
hibited bits of soiled white silk which
the owners declared were cut from
Franks shirt as souvenirs. Bits OF
rope were also cherished.
Fight for Souvenirs.
Women and children were in the
crowd that fought for souvenirs be-
meath the oak tree back of Frye's cot
ton gin.
1t was reported that several auto
mobiles filed with men left Marietta
last night. Although one citizen sig
nifcantly declared that none of the
best chauffeurs was on hand this morn
ing" officials are without an mixing
as to the identity Of any one OF the
band.
There was every evidence that the
kidnapping had been carefully planned
The smoothness and ease with which
the affair was carried through amaze
the Investigators. At the most crlu-
cal point-the prison-there appears
10 have been not the slightest delay
or confusion. There were eight auto
mobiles. They travelled nearly 2OO
miles between sun and sun, yet no
where does any of them seem to have
stopped for repairs. By the time day
light had brought traffic TO the MIL
ledgeville road not vestige OF the
tragedy remained save the grewsome
pendulum on the oak tree.
Both Sheriff Hicks and Coroner
Booth were away when the discovery
was made. With the news from Mil
ledgeville, searching parties in auto
mobiles had been sent in all direc-
tions. Several took the Milledgeville
road. and the beat of their motors
may have come to the ears of the VIC
tim beneath the OAK tree.
Mayor Issues Statement.
Upon learning Of the rumors con
corning the packed automobiles that
left Marietta last night, the following
statement was issued by Mayor Dobbs:
Il desire in the interests of justice
and truth 10 say that the Marietta and
Cobb County officials had no knowledge
of any automobiles leaving Marietta
we'll loaded last night, nor were they
apprised Of the return of any ma
chimes to-day. None of the officials
Udu any ANAAAdAiOA4 Va NiAt AsAlNhiA6 (,
until the body was found"
After Franks body had been cut
down and was on its way to Atlanta,
with cars strung out for two miles be-
hind il. the excitement in Marietta
subsidized quickly. After combing the
ground for souvenirs, the crowd drifted
slowly back TO town. The lynching,
Of course, was the one topic of CONVEX
cation. and widely divergent views
were expressed. By most, Judge Nor
Mss action was approved.
1t is generally believed that the
lynchers came from Cobb County and
probably many Of them from Marietta
Otherwise it is difficult TO account fol-
Franks long death ride.
The posses that Sheriff Hicks and
other South Georgia officers sent out
early in the morning to search for
Frank were sent out again when they
returned TO seek the trail of the men
who hanged him.
The rope used was a new one. II
had been flung across stout branch
about fifteen feet above the ground
and through a fork. 1t was made fast
70 another tree. twenty feet away. The
drop was evidently considerable. Its
violence tore open the freshly healed
\. wound in Franks throat, made BY
Nonvict Green's knife several weeks
ago.