Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-17
LEOFRANK HANGED
BY A MOB TAKING
HIM FROM PRISON


Continued from First PageD
stop there. Soon after. he said, he heard
loud talking and then many shots. Then
the automobiles left in he direction or
Eatonton. \ hurried search of the I'M
mediate vicinity failed to reveal any
thing that would indicate that Frank
had met summary vengeance there.
1t is believed now that the stop at
the bridge over Little river was a ruse
to delay any one who might be pur-
suing the automobiles bearing the mob
and Frank. If such was the intention
it was successful. as the search of the
ground in the vicinity OF the orioge
being made it is probable FRANK had
already met death
Arrives Practically Unnoticed.
The mob arrived in the vicinity of
the prison farm practically unnoticed
and proceeded methodically to it's bust
ness. First all wires from the insti-
tuition to Milledeeville. three miles
away, were cut. All wires except one
telephone line from Milledgeville also
Were severed.
Five men then went to the house on
the prison grounds occupied by War
den ]. 7. Smith, awakened him and
made him their prisoner. At the same
time small squad of men went to the
home of J. NJ. Burke, superintendent
of the farm
Guns Ieveled at Guards.
Burke was forced to so to the gate
nearest the dormitory. where it was
believed Frank was kept, and the only
two guards on duty were ordered. while
guns were leveled on them, to open
the gates The mob rushed in. quickly
hurried him to
of the automobiles He was forced
down into the ear. while a member OF
the mob is said to have fourshed
rope in front of him and then placed 1t
in the automobile with him.
Without DELAY those who had been
guarding Warden Smith left him and
Joined the balance of the mob. The
automobiles We're started at once in a
northerly direction.
Immediate Pursuit Impossible.
With only a limited number of guards
at the prison, and wire communication
with Milledgeville interrupted, imme-
diate pursuit impossible. Some
time elapsed before word could be
brought here and officers started in
the direction taken by the mob. None
of these officers reported for several
hours after they left. The first report
of the route taken came from the news
paper men. who left Macon at about
the same time officers got started from
Milledgeyilie.
In the absence of definite news that
Frank had been lynched many were
inclined to believe that possibly it was
his friends and not his foes that took
him away, and that the display of the
rope and the shooting were parts of
plan to cover the real intentions Of
the mob.
First reports that it might he friends
of Frank were dispclled when pris
,l>1,-
the mob say that Franks body would
be placed today on the grave of Mary
Phagan at Marietta, Franks alleged
murder victim.
Recovered From Attack.
Frank had sufficiently recovered from
the wound in his throat inflicted by
another prisoner a month ago to leave
the prison hospital Sunday and take
his place in the sleeping quarters with
the other prisoners. Mrs. Frank, who
had been almost constantly with her
husband since William Green attacked
him. was informed of last nights de-
velopments shortly after they occur
red She was reported to have main
tanned her composure and declined to
comment
Search Proves Fruitless.
A. c. Phillips, sheriff of Putnam
county, stated over the telephone from
Eatonton at $50 o'clock this morning
that a search for Franks body near
the bridge over Little river had proved
fruitless Many empty shotgun and
rife shells were found near where
jackson said he had heard the shots.
Officers traced the automobiles to the
road leading from Eatonton to Madi-
son and thence into a main road lead
ing to Atlanta.
Roads Guarded at First.
No person could be found here who
knew from which direction the mob
came This wo1!d hardly have been
the case at any time for the first few
weeks after Frank was taken to the
state prison farm Rumors of plans to
take Frank out of the prison were al
most of daily occurrence, and not only
were roads protected but large force
of guards were kept on duty at the
prison.
One persistent report that crowd
was coming from Marietta resulted in
the local company of militia being held
in readiness to guard the prison.
Fewer Precautions Taken.
Such reports had not been heard in
the past few weeks and fewer precau-
tons were taken. Last night only the
usual number of guards were at the
dormitory.
Members of the state prison commits
sion arrived here today. Some members
usually come every Monday, but today
all three came. This commission has
full power to take whatever action
its members may deem necessary.
Franks Body Being Taken
to Atlanta in an Auto;
Governor Told of Case
ATLANTA, August 17.-Leo NJ.
Franks body Will be brought to At
lanta. Former Judge y. \. Norris. who
was in the automobile in which the
body was placed at the outskirts of
Marietta, telephoned today from Smyr-
ma. Ga. To local undertaken TO meet
the automobile just outside Atlanta
and take charge OF the body