The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-06-03
In Affidavit Woman Whom Law
Soon May Make a Widow
Tells of Happy Married
Life With Convict.
SEEK STAY OF EXECUTION
Thousands of People Back Law
yer's Appeal For Executive
Clemency In Behalf of
Doomed Georgian.

Atlanta. Ga. June THE last nigh,
90 a v Leo NJ. Frank from the death
penalty began here today with prepare
tons for the hearing before the state
prison commission on his application
for communication Of sentence. Franks
counsel have fought his case through
the various state and federal courts and
before the United States supreme court
without a reversal of the original YER
dict OF conviction and the appeal for
clemency is his last resort. His execu-
ton has been set for June %, next.
Former Congressman w. M. Howard,
I'm charge of Franks case IA prepared
to emphasize in his argument the doubt
as to the prisoners guilt expressed by
the late Judge Roam. who presided at
the trials, the dissenting opinions OF
two judges of the state supreme court
when a decision was rendered affirm
ing the findings Of the lower court, and
the dissenting opinion OF Justices
Holmes and Hughes, of the United
States supreme when that trib-
M denied Franks appeal for a writ
OF habeas corpus.
Franks counsel also was expected to
file with the commission a letter writ
ten by Judge Roam just before his
death in which il was said he reiterated
his doubt as to Franks guilt and urged
executive clemency.
Delegations from several cities in
Georgia and Chicago and elsewhere al
so were prepared to offer arguments in
Franks behalf.
Defendant Not Present.
Frank was not present when the
commissions hearing began. Mr..
Howard read the prisoners brief APP
plication for continuation of sentence
and then offered documentary evidence
including records of court proceedings,
the affidavit of Judge Roam and a
statement OF Mrs. Leo NJ. Frank.
Judge Roan's affidavit told of the
hostile atmosphere surrounding the
trial which induced him to urge that
Frank be absent when the verdict was
rendered.
Mr.. Howard said Mr.. Franks state
ment was the chief new evidence to be
presented.
Mrs, Franks statement says she was
born in Atlanta and had lived there all
her life, accustomed to the courteous
treatment which is characteristic of the
southerner."
II continued with h ideals which
! had and which had been ~inculcated in
me from girlhood / expected in my
husband nothing less han that which
! had been accustomed and to which
every woman looks forward, and which
II \ lullN ACdIlACu III llg obpA
When not occupied with his business
the only time he spent away from me
was when he was occupied with his
charitable work, which took him away
from home about once or twice a
month.
our married life had peer exceed
ingly happy and never had been marred
by the slightest cloud. He was regard
ed and loved by my parents as a son
and was always courteous, gentle and
most respectful in his relations with
them. and our families nave always
been on intimate terms.
Tells of Arrest.
when my husband was first arrest
ed on this charge n was detained at
police headquarters on Tuesday, April
20, 1913, ] hurried to the police barracks,
accompanied by my father and broth
erinlaw. l was not allowed to go up
TO see my husband, and remained in
the Office of the probation officer, from
whence my friends prevailed On me to
return home. Being assured that my
husband would be released at any mo
ment, I remained at home. but as oon
as II became apparent that he would
be detained indefinitely. l went to him
Immediately and have been going to
him every day since and spend most
Of the day with him in Jail.
ON the 18th day Of April, 1918, my
mother and l had tickets for the mat
inee to grand opera and in order to
get there in time we sat at table at
ITO p. M, before my husband came
home to dinner, and at about lis p.
m, father came in and sat down at
dinner with us. About 1880 mother and
I left the, house n my husband and
father were left at the table eating.
Returning home from the opera at $3.50
I found my husband already there.
There was nothing unusual In his man
ner or appearance to attract my atten-
ton.
That evening, after supper, a num-
Der of friends OF my mother and
father came over to the house to play
cards. My husband and l did not play,
but he sat in the hall reading, l
watched the game for a while in the
dining room n then would go into
he hall n talk to my husband and
would then go a again to watch
he game. My husband read in the
hall until some time after 10 o'clock.
when he went upstairs to take q bath.
/ followed him a few minutes later, and
we retired about 1880. We were
awakened about 8:45 by the telephone
ringing. Ny husband got out of bed.
put on his bathrobe and went down
to answer h telephone.
"When he came back again l asked
him who 1t was. n he said some de-
t~ectives had telephoned him to come
right down to the factory; that there
had been a tragedy down three. and
that they were sending an automobile
for him. My husband began to dress
right away and while he was dressing
the front door bell rang and 1 slipped
on a bathrobe and went downstairs to
answer the door. When / opened the
door, Booth Rogers and John Black
were there. Iasked them what was
the matter, and they said someone had
been killed in the factory and they
then told me what they knew bout 1t.