Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-17
Body Left Hanging
LEO M. FRANK KIDNAPPED
FROM PRISON AT MIDNIGHT


! mated to be 100 shots. Numerous empt,
pistol cartridge shells were picked Ut
! later In the vicinity
SUPERINTENDENT BUREE's STORY
"T was called to the door of my house
| Just as ! was preparing to retire. said
| superintendent j. NJ. Burke, of the prison
| farm. and stepped outside.
The moment / had crossed the thresh-
| old, two strong men grabbed me, and in
an instant snapped bandcuffs on my
/ wrists. Four others Stood guard over
INC with two shotguns, and two with
| heavy pistols.
when | demonstrated they said II was
no use for me to squirm, as they had
come for Leo Frank and we're going to
| get him.
Il told them Frank was not at my
house and they said they knew that, but
they were going to take me to where
they knew he was quartercd.
MARCH TO PENITENTIARY
II was marched up TO the ponitentlary
building by guard which was doubled
as we proceeded
When We reached the building a de-
nand was made that the gate be opened
and, when the trusty in charge hesitated,
awaiting official orders. the kidnappcrs
began cutting the wires and told the
trusty that he would be killed as soon
as they got in.
AS the gate was unlocked Night Guard
Hester came forward, but he was imme-
dlatcly covered with guns and ordered
to throw up his hands.
Halfway up the stairs J was halted
while half dozen men rushed by me
and made dash for Franks room.
FRANK BRUTALLY TREATED.
One OF the prisoners, who Witnessed
what followed, said four men seized
Frank by his arms and legs, while
ntth grabbed him by the hair, and he
was dragged out and dumped down the
stairs"
while I looked on Frank never uttered
word, but he evidently suffered In
tensely. and grouned from the pain the
lynchers inflicted on him by the rough
ness with which they handled him in his
wounded condition.
The members Of the mob told me thew
oid not mean to harm any one but Frank.
TOOK HARDLY FIVE MINUTES.
me whole thing took hardly five min
utes. Before we realized the enorrnity
of the occurrence 1t was written chan
ter .'''p-
While It was going on l was bond-
cuffed and under guard
When the crowd had dragged FranI,
outside. and was starting OFF, / asked the
man who snapped the handcuffs on me 10
unlock them' but he laughed and said
u would accompany them he would
take off the irons.
replied that I was damned II
would go anywhere with them.
me whole procedure was timed as a
Rell-ordered and methodical proposition
md only a few words We're spoken.
only two OF the men were masked but
dld not recognize any OF them
eader said; ''
Now boys, for the swamp
ihen' In less time than IL takes To !
Ell II. they were off, and 1 could see |
heir lights flashing as they went ovsr
ne hill toward Meriwsther, on the road |
hat leads TO Atlanta"
WARDEN SMITHS VERSION
warden James E. Smith, OF the nrlson |
arm, describing the Frank affaIr. said'
Nothlns OF this kind was expected. |
.djaeent to the main prison bulIdinS as
usually do under normal conditions
Il had just gone In when | was caIlad
the 'front.' door. I asked who Il was |
ho name was given In a concilIatorv |
one. did not understand the name
ut as my own name was called. famiI-
arly' went TO the door with a lantern
= my hand' and my other hand ON my |
CONFRONTED WITH PISTOLS
When opened the door a half a dozen
leh with pistols confronted me and
hrust guns Into my face. They com
handed me 20 throw up my hands ana
mere was nothing else to do.
AT THIS juncture my wife rushed IN
nd fell fainting In my arms ana the
len ordered me to come on with them TO
ne camp My wife interposed. but they
old her they were my friends and her |
llehaA and mat she need not be AFRAID,
ut she kept ellnging to me.
LEFT UNDER GUARD
Then one Of the men told the rest 10
o on. but In q minute changed his mind
nd said few ought 10 remain with
They kept me covered for i've or six
liaates. then took my pistol. jumped into
. automobile and were gone
4 al happened 80 quickly that Il Is
ard 20 say how they carried il out
Il AN completely al my wits end
Frank was not Ia the best of health
hen he WAS roughly dragged from his
Cd and carried on. He had not YET fully
seeqeFed from the Injuries inflicted unon
iH bs Green, and was Yeak and nerv-
FRANK LEFT HOSPITAL MONDAY.
Frank haa only left the hospital yea
.rdaya where he had been visited daily
B his wife
Il Haa AZ hour before the prison farm
etaefifles were able 70 set h touch
.ith ths outside world ana this Eave
ienfy g opportunity f1r the mob 10 set
= sHaF eith ii9 prisoner aud to deal
ItA aIm Is fhe uag that sulte1 the
.ne4 s. ~ laDIel