Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-28
A VISIT TO LEO FRANK IN JAIL
How the Prisoner Looks Acts and Talks He Waits in His Cell
for What?-Whether He Is Innocent Guilty,
His Is Stoical Attitude.
BY WILLIAM RAIDER
Special Correspondent of tho Evening Ledger

LIE REMINDED me of Theodore Durrant
IL the San Francisco boy who committed
''the crime of the century"-this young cheer
full but nervous Leo Frank about whom SO
much has been written and who has been
sentenced four times to death.
He occupies the most comfortable cell in
the grim stone castle of a Jail in Atlanta. His
table is piled with books-some late fiction,
and works In history and science. The "cell"
resembles the workshop of busy man rather
than the prison house of one charged with
heinous crime and for whose life the State OF
Georgia clamors, while at least three State
Legislatures petition for clemency and 100000
people unite, pleading that the death penalty
be not imposed
bunch of fresh flowers frightened the
room Outside sat a German tongued guard
who took part in the conversation. Every
body is graclously kind around the Atlanta
jail. The sheriff and his deputies, the jailer.
the poor devils who have been unfortunate
enough to get caught-they do not furnish the
characteristic jail atmosphere. The Atlanta
Jail is more hospitable than some hotels.
A Hospitable Welcome
Leo Frank expresses this feeling of open
hearted hosptable welcome. He greets you
a hotel clerk welcomes the guest. While
you do not register your name he is careful
to get it just right and spells it audibly. He
thrusts his hand through the iron bars gives
you tight grip and penetrates you with
pair of eyes which are capable of both the
stare and the sting He was dressed with
simple neatness AS he said of himself "I
am clean and comfortable and take great
care OF my dress. like clean linen and good
clothes and bath"
A tasteful tie with a pin to match, white
shoes He smoked a cigar that sent out
Havana fragrance.
Here is a man with the shadow of a death
sentence over him in class by himself.
Neither villain in appearance nor a cring-
ing, pale faced Jean Vatican is Leo Frank,
but a businesslike, straightforward. reassur-
ing type of man, who impresses you as one
capable of tackling a big job and getting
away with 1t.
He was perceptlbIy nervous. Most men
would be under the circumstances. This nerv-
BUSINESS found vent in his almost voluble
talk, for Frank approaches at times an al
most exuberant verbosity. He never slips in
his Cornell English and he uses sentences
with the ease of man of the world.
His argument against the charge OF muir
der is the old one of incongruity. He reasons
thus Here you behold a college graduate
a man who in appearance is gentleman,
Travelled, widely read with no visible interests
OF cruelty and crime. successful in business
and refined in manner, Do you think for a
moment that he is capable of taking the life
of a sweet little girl, of being cruel and in
human?"
In almost these exact words Leo Frank
defended himself, saying with emphasis: "It
is a misfit. 1t is impossible to Mt such a man
as am into such a bloody deed"
An Incident in Atlanta
confess that in the Frank case have no
definite convictions, not having followed the
evidence and am writing without prejudice
or partiality. A significant incident happened
in one OF the big Atlanta churches the Sun
day night prior TO my visit A popular
preacher announced that he would speak on
the Frank case. Strangely enough, the church
was not filled, When the minister began to
disclose sympathy for the condemned man at
least 200 of his hearers arose and walked out
OF the church. This displayed at once an act
of discourtesy and a conviction on the Frank
case. Feeling runs high in Atlanta. II by
chance Frank should be pardoned. Il would
require regiment Of soldiers to defend him
against mob.
Our talk began with Detective Burns,
name that Is hated in Georgia. Frank him
self admitted that Burns did him more harm
than good Ia Atlanta. but not abroad In the