The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-19
Cobb County Commission.
ers Will Aid State Track
Slayers Down.
CROWD GOES OVER
SCENE OF KILLING
Press and Individuals Con-
tinue to Assail Action of
the Lawless GeOrgians.

ATLANTA, Aug. 1s.-Gov. Harris has
taken charge of the investigation into
the lynching of Leo NJ. Frank and
this afternoon stated that nothing
would be left undone to punish the men,
bers OF the mob.
81 am ineNpressibly shocked" said the
Governor. This affair places blot
upon the fair name Of our state that
can never be wiped out. The lynching
will be run down to the bottom and every
effort within my power will be made to
bring the members of the mob to justice.
AT the proper time will offer suit.
able rewards for the arrest and convic-
tion Of the men. and I will urge the
Judge, the Solicitor and the Sheriff to
make diligent efforts to apprehend them"
Gov. Harris will first hold a con-
ference with the members OF the Prison
Commission to determine whether the
officials and guards at the State prison
farm should be held responsible for al
lowing the mob to take Frank out OF
their hands. He will also undertake. IL
possible. to obtsfn-from- officials and
guards some description Of the men
composing the mob. Then he will direct
his attention to the apprehension OF the
guilty parties.
To Hire Special Counsel.
The Coroner's inquest which had be-
gun in Marietta was postponed until next
Tuesday. Special counsel will probably
be employed by the Coroner to assist
In the investigation. the County Com
missioner Of Cobb county having author
ICED such action.
a special meeting has been held by the
Cobb county Commissioners. who ex-
pressed a determination to sift the trag-
edy and to cooperate with the Governor.
But there will be no action taken, 1t was
stated to-day. until some definite pro-
cedure has been decided on by State au-
thorities.
Prison Commissioner Rainey, who was
at the prison farm at Milledgeville when
the mob took Frank, said to-day that the
prison officials should not be held re-
sponsible nor would the Commissioners
who were at the farm be held respon-
sible.
The mob took everybody completely
BY surprise and nobody had a chance to
resist" Mr.. Rainey declared. Under
the circumstances l do not see how the
prison officials could have done anything
TO save Frank. As matter OF fact, l
am Of the opinion they could have Sc
cured Frank without Mr.. Burke or Mr..
Smith, who were in their homes. knowing
OF II. They were absolutely noiseless.
- f.r l.a. ..lx haav
tected in about this way. The Legisla-
lures have made no appropriations with
which We could have fortified the place
against thing OF this kind. The wire
fence and the building are the best that
could De secured for the money. No pro-
vision is made for permanent additional
guards"
Postcards of Lynching.
Thousands of postcards were sold in
Atlanta to-day showing the body OF
Frank dangling from the tree near
Marietta. These cards were put out by
a Photographer who reached the scene
~ the tragedy long before the body was
cut down. The cards are eagerly bought
ard IL is said have been put on sale
in other Georgia cities. The sale OF the
cards excited some opposition and com
plhnt was made to acting Mayor Rags
dale 10 stop the traffic.
Mr., Ragsdale made an investigation
Of the law on the subject and found that
the sale of the pictures. after person
had obtained "A license for that purpose
could not be stopped,
Postcards bearing pictures of tn,
FlaDk lynchng cannot be sent through
the mail. The local post office is de
strOying all such cards mailed here. Thi.
action was taken under the regulation,
which bars libelous and indecent matter
on postcards and the outside Of en-
Ncopes and wrappers.
No one doubts that GOV. Harris in
tends to do what he can to bring tn,
members OF the mob to justice, bu
hardly any enc believes that the Gov
ernor will be able to accomplish any
thing A vast ma jority of the peopl
OF Georgia believe Frank was guilty an,
that he was fairly tried and convicted
Believing this, they bitterly resente
Gov. Slatpns action in committing IT,
death sentence and now they thin
Frank has simply met the fate whc
had originally been Justly decreed b
the courts. With the public mind II
this sta'e there Is little prospect TO
pIishirg the members OF the mob.
Tho feeling against ex-Gov Slaton
Intensely bitter and many conservativ
p.rsons are glad that he Is out OF tn
s'dtc.
Would Have called Troops.
In reply to the charge that "it was u
in u,u to have protected Frank fror
Monday nights mob" Gov. Harris said
would have gladly called out tn
militia for Franks protection had tn
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