The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-09-02

that the illegal hanging as they
termed the lynching, was carried out
in an orderly manner. Members OF
the vigilance committee are said
to resent any any intimation that
Frank was "maltreated' while in
their custody. They assert he was
given exactly the same consideration
given to a condemned man on the
day of his execution. The rough han.
ding of the body after it was cut
down was a matter concerning which
members of the committee feel they
were not responsible.
Sixth. The members of the ''vigi-
lance committee felt they had a ''sa-
cred duty" to perform in carrying
out the mandates of the courts of the
State and of the United States.
| There was no mob spirit; no demon
stration, and there is said to have
been no idea of hanging Frank in
the public square at Marietta or in
the cemetery where Mray Phagan
lies buried. There was, however, a
determination that the "execution'
should take place in Cobb county.
Inasmuch as all the members of the
committee are said to be resi-
dents of Cobb county the reason for
this is obvious.
Seven Autos Required.
Seven automobiles were required
to transport the "vigilance commit
tee" from Marietta to Milledgeville.
Only four returned, including the
car in which Frank rode. All of the
machines were small cars of popu-
lar make. These cars were special
ly selected because of the difficulty
in identifying them. No car of con-
spicuous color or design was want
ed. There were probably twenty
eight men in the lynching party.
The machines left Marietta singly
during the afternoon of Monday last,
and it was shortly after 10 o'clock
when the prison farm was reached.
After Warden Smith and Superin-
tendent Burke had been called from
their homes and handcuffed, the par
ty proceeded to the prison house
in which Frank was known to be
quartered. Frank was just recover
ing from the wound inflicted on his
throat by William Green, fellow
prisoner, and was to have been re-
turned to the regular sleeping dormi-
tory on Tuesday night. On the night
of his death, however, he was still
living in the hospital room adjoining
the warden's Office.
When the 1ynching party had en-
tered the prison and it's members
were disarming the outer guards, one
of the TRUSTEES" at the prison, who
was also on guard duty, quickly blew
out an oil lamp burning just out
side Franks door. He also extin-
guished the dim light burning in the
hospital room. ~
Hailed the 'Trusty." =.
A member of the invading party
was quick to see this. He hailed the
"trusty."
Come here with a match" he
commanded,
Il haven't got one," replied the
convict guard.
"Well,' you had better get one
damned quick
The guard saw the CLEAN of re-
volver and lost no time in complying.
So far as known this was the only
semblance of an oath used in Frank s
presence. This was in keeping with
the determination of the members of
the vigilance cor :ttee" to give to
their acts consist. 1T atmosphere of
omciality. II.
Four men entered Franks room.
The noise at the outer door already
had awakened the prisoner, but he
was still lying in bed when his room
was entered by the self-appointed
executioners, who wore hats we'll
pulled down to meet the automobile
goggles which served the purpose of
masks.
eve want you to come with us, -
Frank was told.
There was neither surprise nor ter
ror in the look he turned upon the
four determined men. In silence
Frank arose and made as if to dress
himself. He was still feeble from
the loss of blood suffered in tho
Green attack and swayed perhaps a
little dizzily.
Don't bother with the clothes,
come just as you are," he was COM
manded
Offered No Resistance.
Unresistingly and without appeal