Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-06-21
S[ATON GIVES
REASONS FOR
COMMUTAT|ON

ATLANTA, Ga, June 19.-In his
statement exhaustively explaining his
reasons for committing Leo M
Franks death sentence today. Gov
ernor John M. Slaton reviewed the
circumstances surrounding the MUIR
der of Mary Phagan in the National
Pencil factory on April 26. 1918, the
conviction of Frank and his appeal
for clemency. Continuing, the state
ment reads in part:
THE murder was a most heinolls
one and the offender deserves the pun
ishment of death The only question
is as to the identity os the criminal.
The responsibility is upon the people
of Georgia to protect the lives of her
citizens and to maintain the dignity
of her laws; and if the choice must
be made between the appreciation of
citizens of other States and the en-
forcement of our laws against offen-
ders, we must choose the latter al
tentative.
1T is charged that the court and
tnat the jury was coerced into its
verdict When Frank was first ac-
cused the air was filled with rumors
as to the murder and mutilation of
the girl, there was intense feeling.
and to such an extent that my prede-
cessor, Governor Brown, stated In
argument before me that he had the
militia ready to protect the defend
ant If any attack was made Some
weeks later the defendant was put
On trial"
The governor then referred to
Georgia's laws relating to change of
venue, declaring these provisions
most broad in behalf of the defend
ant to insure q fair trial. Frank, he
said, went to trial without asking a
change of venue, and submitted his
case to a jury that was acceptable to
him.
Feeling Against Frank.
During the progress of the trial"
the statement continued, after evil
dence had been introduced laying the
crime with many offensive details
upon Frank. the feeling against him
became intense If the au-
dience in the courtroom manifested
their deep resentment toward Frank
Ii was largely by his evidence of feel
ing beyond the courts power to COR
rect. 1t would be difficult Tor an ap-
pel1ate court or trial court to grant
a new trial in such a long case, be-
cause the audience in the courtroom
on a few occasions indicated their
sympathies.
1.-THE jury found the defendant
guilty. and with exception of the
demonstration outside the courtroom
there was no disorder. Nothing wa
done which the courts could correc;
through legal machinery"
The governor pointed out that
the United States Supreme Court has
sustained this ruling. He declare
the charge against the State of Geor
gia of racial prejudice was unfair
He then reviewed the evidence
reviewing the evidence, ne as
serted, tne state proved that FRANK
was In ms once at the factory little
after ~ O'Clock the DAY OF the mnr-
der, and that ne ADMITTED paying
Mary Phagan wages due her. So far
as known, he says Frank was the
last person VINO saw her alive. Other
facts enumerated by the governor as
to him the more important of those
shown by the state were:
That Frank at O'Clock the after
noon oil the murder allowed the negro
watchman, Newt Lee, TO leave the
evening Frank called Lee on the tele-
phone, that Lee found the double in
ner doors locked, all of which things
similar to that with which the girl