The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-23
sLATON AND THE FRANK CASE

Editor Star: The cries of "Shame"
directed at the state. of Georgia by
well-meaning, but misguided people
are becoming louder and more voci-
ferrous, especially among those news
papers generally known as "The Sub
sidized Press" Such people and such
papers should not yell so loudly un-
til they are sure of their facts. The
facts brought out in the trial of Leo
Frank would fill a volume or two,
and no man not paid to believe
otherwise, could hardly continue to
believe in Franks innocence after
reading the facts. / realize that /
am stepping on the toes of the Star
editor in saying this, but the Star
editor has been previously deceived.
/ will not enter into the details of the
testimony whicvh convicted Leo
Frank and caused him to be sentenc-
ed to be hanged until he was dead.
The testimony in full can be secured
for a dime. But here are facts,
damning facts, that should be known
/
Mary Phagan died defending her
virtue in the latter part of April,
1913. Luther Rosser was employed
to defend Leo Frank April 9th, 1913,
before a single hand of suspicion had
pointed toward Frank. April 29th,
Leo Frank was detained to await ac-
tion of the coroner's jury. Almost
Immediately afterward, Governor
elect John M. Slaton entered into
partnership with Luther M. Rosser,
in charge of the defense of Leo
Frank. AS governor of Georgia from
June 1913, to June 1915, John M. Sla-
ton was debarred from law practice ?
Why did Luther NJ. Rosser want John
M. Slaton for a partner when John
NJ. Slaton was, by the Georgia law
barred from practicing law until his
term should expire? Rosser has not
answered that question. Slaton an
swered it clearly and neatly when he
eOmmuted the sentence of Leo Frank
The Leo Frank defense committee
sprung up in the night to outwit and
browbeat the sovereign state of
Georgia and did its work well-ex-
ceedingly well. The trail left by the
detective William ]. Burns, bribed
Christian ministers, browbeaten and
bribed witnesses and forged docu-
ments, testifes to the efficiency of
that organization.
The people of Georgia bore them
selves nobly. But little talk OF
lynching could be heard. The senti-
ment was unanimous that FranB
should have a fair trial in the states
courts and that the people should
abide by the decision of twelve good
men and the sentence of the Judge
And let me say here parenthetically
than the people not only did abide by
the decision of the trial jury, but
carried out the sentence of the court
after corruption had undermined and
made imperative the executive head
of the state.
The people of Georgia did not know
that John NJ. Slaton was a partner OF
Luther Rosser, the attorney of Lee
Frank, but Slaton knew. Oh, yes
Slaton knew very well that he was &
partner of Luther Rosser, and hi.
last principal act as chief executive
Of Georgia shows that he knew what
was expected of him very well. Prob
ably that he might be sure to remem
! Der his duty as a member of the firm
Rosser visited him secretly in the
night, a few hours after the prisoI
commission had decided agains
Frank. And one detective Burk,
knew, too, that Slaton was more thar
nominally Rosser's partner, for Burk,
used Slaton's Office for his operation!
after he (Burke) had been employed
by the Rosser firmi
The act of the citizens who hanged
Leo Frank is, therefore, morally jus
titled. With government corrupted
by outside lucre and imperative, the
real government, that is, the people