The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-02
GEORGIANS DEMAND
FRANKS EXECUTION
Ey-GOv. Brown i'm Delegation
Urging That Courts SEN
tence BE Carried out.
DENOUNCE OUTSIDE TALK

ATLANTA. June Bitter protests
against c~cmmutatlon of Leo NJ Franks
death sentence we're made to-day to the
Prison Commission by n delegation ~
ffty leading citizens OF Marietta and
cobb county chosen at n mass meeting
to present resolutions against clemency.
Ex-Governor Joseph NJ. Brown was a
member OF the delegation. Herbert
clay. Solicitor-General Of the Blue Ridge
Circuit. and J. r. Dorsey and Fred Nor
ris. Representatives-elect from Cobb
county TO the Legislature, were spokes-
men.
I'VE are here to protest against your
interference with the sentence imposed"
said Mr.. Clay. We are not a mob.
We are Jaw abiding citizens who feel
that the law ought 10 he enforced. II
YOU are going 10 commute this sentence
capital punishment might as well be
abolished. If the extreme penalty should
ever be enforced II is in this case.
People outside of Georgia who have
= BIASED. | might say subsidized. ac-
counts OF this case haye been urging
you to commute this Sentence. Because
VI Ni"' iatt w B'oIit VI 'OOD county
sent us here to urge enforcement OF
law"
Mr.. Morris and Mr.. Dorsey spoke
along similar lines. Judge Patterson
OF the commission and Mr.. Morris
clashed when the latter referred to
Judge Roan's letter saying Franks SEN
tence should be committed. Mr.. Morris
said
The letter was published after that
-D~ rNa n. 1AAN .-
that II he believed Frank should have
had a new trial he would have
granted IT,"
But Judge Roar said Il wac possible
hat he showed undue Difference to the
verdict OF the jury" said Judge Pat
tcrson.
"But III doesn't express anything new
in his letter. replied Mr.. Morris.
Yes. he does--a doubt as to his own
action retorted Judge Patterson. His
doubt before was as 10 the correctness
OF the jury's verdict"
W believe II would be setting a
dangerous precedent in Georgia for you
TO INT Franks sentence on account
OF a nations interest" Mr.. Dorsey
argued.
But the nation has been inhamed by
headlines saying an innocent man will
be- murdered unless we interfere" ex-
plalneu the Judge.
I'VE do not believe that the opinions
OF these people who know nothing Of
the merits of the case should affect the
administration OF law In Georgia" was
Mr.. Dorsey's closing statement.
At the conclusion Of the hearing Chair
man Dawson said
Il wish IL understood by the people
that the members OF this commission
are unbiased and have no prejudices In
this case. We are. as II were. between
two millstones and we are being ground
ny both. The people ma rest assured.
however. that whatever the commission
does will be In thorough accordance with
the dictates of the conscience and Judg-
ment of the members after the most pro-
found consideration"
II in generally believed that the COM
mission will favor Communication by a
vote of 2 TO I, and maybe unanimously.
A decision 10 not expected for several
weeks.
Jim Conley. the negro whose testi-
mony did much TO convict Frank. will
meet the condemned prisoner Tomorrow
afternoon at a hearing In the Jail in
the case OF Mrs. Coleman. mother OF
Mary Phagan. against the National
Pencil Factory. for $4,000 for the
death OF her daughter. Frank and Con-
ley will testify TO the girls death.
Conley. who was sentenced to serve
twelve months as an accessory 10 the
murder OF the girl. will go free to-
morrow, getting two months on for good
conduct.