Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-18
GEORGIA governor
TOPROBE LYNCH|NG
Will Seek to Determine Mem
bers of Mob Killing
Leo N. Frank.
PENITENTIARY OFFICIALS
HELD TO BE BLAMELESS
Prison Commissioners Discuss Case.
Body of Alleged Slayer Being
Brought North.

Brought North.
ATLANTA. August 1S.-All the legal
machinery available to Gov. Harris
who constituted the members of the
mob that lynched Leo NJ. Frank at
Marietta yesterday. the governor said
today. Gov. Harris came here from
Fitzgerald, Ca, as soon as he heard
of the lynching. He was attending
state Confederate veterans reunion
there.
This affair is shocking, and ] am
going to have il investigated to the
very limit of my power" said Gov.
Harris. soon after he arrived at his
office today.
Course Not Yet Mapped Out.
He had not made up his mind ex
actly what would be done Immediately.
1t is believed much will depend upon
the findings of the Cobb county coro-
ner jury. which adjourned to meet
Tuesday, after having a short session
yesterday. The governor had not de-
cided when he reached his office
whether a reward would be offered for
apprehension of members of the lynch
ing party.
E. L. Rainey, a member of the state
prison commission, arrived here today
from MilledgeviIIe. He. with other
members of the commission. were at
the prison farm when Frank was taken
away. He, like r. Z. Davidson. chair
man of the commission, is of the opln-
1t he I'M RI n
an investigation of the events at the
penitentiary. Mr.. Davidson left MIL
ledgeville this morning, and is expected
to arrive in Atlanta this afternoon.
Exonerates Prison officials.
Prison officials at MilIedgeville are
held to be without blame for the situa-
ton arising from the taking of Frank
from the states principal penal institu-
ton by Mr.. Davidson.
The prison commission has full power,
not excepting that vested in the gov
ernor, to conduct or order any investi-
cation that it may deem f1t.
Mr.. Davidson is accredited with the
statement that as the mob worked SO
quickly. and was so well organized. and
Immediately upon its arrival at the
prison so completely controlled the SIT,
uation, that mo responsibility rested
upon either the coHlHlSSioh VI oi'1
body at the farm.
Some comment was heard today as to
why the mob had to, deal with only
FIVE men-the warden, the superlntend-
ent, two guards and "trusty" in
charge at gate.
officials Power1ess.
That Warden J. T. Smith and Supt
]. NJ. Burke were powerless with ia
cilities they had at hand when the mob
arrived is not questioned at Milledge-
Vile. Burke says the mob completed
it's work in five minutes; Smith says
five or six minutes.
First, all wires were cut at the pris-
on. Then Warden Smith was made
prisoner by part of the mob, Whlie
another squad handcuffed Burke and
led him to the gate they wished to en-
ter. A command to the trust! TO
open the gate was demurred to. but a
threat to kill him if it was not opened
Immediately quickly gave the mob easy
access to the inside. AS the gate was
opened a guard came up He was
overpowered. Another guard was en-
countered. but soon was at the mercy
of the mob. Frank was grabbed Dy
five men. according to most reports,
hurried outside and thrust into the ton
neau of an automobile along with
long rope that was dangled in front OF
his eyes.
He did not utter a word. An oc-
casional groan escaped his lips. What
he said, if anything. during the hVe or
six hour trip from Milledeeville to the
outskirts of Marietta probably never
will be generally known ;,
The statement of MIR. Davidson,
chairman on the prison commission.
seemed to indicate that the prison
feature may not be investigated I'M
carefully and acted so quickly that lit
tie excitement was caused at Milledge-
willie. Marietta rapidly assumed its
normal poise. after Franks body had
been cut down from tree near the
town and brought to Atlanta.
Some of Mob Near Town.
Those who today studied more close
ly the movements Of the mob at Mill
edgeville were convinced that few
members were in the vicinity of the
town before the main body arrived. 1t
must have taken some time to cut the
telephone wires in the manner in which
this detail was handled
Although none of the automobiles
bearing the gang was seen near here
until they approa ched the prison, as
far as could be learned today. it is
believed the entire gang would have
avoided any movement, such Is having
all the men on the scene to cut the
wires, that would lead to detection.
Many in Marietta are of the belief
that plans similar to those which were
successful Monday night were frus-
trated month ago. The Milledgeville
company of militia was ordered to hold
itself ready to proceed to the state
prison. AS far as generally known,
reports that a mob might attack the
prison were no more persistent then
than they had been for some time.
Prison officials never said exactly why
they requested the militia to be held
ready. 1t was intimated at Marietta
there had been a leak"
Plans Carefully Arranged.
Those who tried to follow the decoy
automobile, which carried the part of
the mob to near Eatonton, where a
took place, reported to-
day that these plans had been care
fully arranged. Chains were placed
on the tires to make trailing easy.
After the machine left the bridge over
Little river the chains were removed.
which made it difficult to follow the
automobile when it was out of sight.
Although nearly every town between
and Marietta over any
route the mot5 might have taken had
been communicated with today, only
several automobiles proceeding toward
the lynching scene. He resides within
a short distance of where Frank was
hanged
Body Leaves Atlanta.
Franks body left here at midnight
on the Southern railway for the home