Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-19
FRANKS CONDITION
ANNOUNCED AS BAD
DeIirious at Intervals in Early
Hours, But Rallies as
Morning Advances.
GREEN SAYS HE PLANNED
ATTACK ENTIRELY ALONE
Victim of Fellow. Convict, Retain
ing Consciousness, Asks That
Assailant Be Forgiven.

MILI.EDGENILLE. Ga. July l".-
Physicians who examined Leo NJ. Frank
i'll the state prison at o'clock this
morning said soon after that that his
condition was much worse. The jag
sed cut in his throat received at the
hands of William Green. a fellow
prisoner, Saturday night was swollen,
and his temperature was 102 Is.
Or. II. J. Rosenberg, the Frank fam
lily physician, last night believed
Franks condition warranted him in
leaving. and he left for Atlanta. He
and another Atlanta doctor were sum-
moned here today, however.
Early today Frank began showing
signs of nervousness. but it was not
considered unusual. His temperature
continued to rise. and at about day
light he was delrious at brief inter-
walls. The temperature reached the
highest shortly before o'clock and
then began to drop. At o'clock it
was fraction over 101.
Blood Poison Most Feared Today.
Or. Guy Compton, the prison physi-
cian was not SO alarmed over the turn
of the night as were other attendants.
He stated today that some fever was
to be expected and that the swollen
neck was not necessarily within itself
an exceedingly dangerous sign. Blood
poison is most feared today, as the
stitches seem to be holding. The wound
was dressed hurriedly. The weapon
might easily have been injected ana
that adds to the blood poison fears.
Green said, when taken from solitary
confinement long enough to be queS-
toned yesterday. that he planned the
attack alone and that no one knew
what he intended to do He was not
communicative today and gave as his
only excuse that "he thought 1t should
be done" He said, however, that he
regretted his act.
Frank was quartered at night in
dormitory with about 100 other pris-
oners and occupied a bunk about forty
feet from one of the two doors to the
large room. Green's bunk was fourth
from his. No prisoner is allowed to
leave his place without permission
from one of the two guards stationed
at the dormitory at night. Shortly
after II o'clock last night Green called
out for permission to get up and 1t was
granted.
Guard Prevents Second Blow.
He started down the line of hunks
he reached it he quickly grabbed Frank
by the hair and delivered one blow with
the knife he had concealed. The at
tack was witnessed by the guard. who
rushed to the bunk and prevented
Green from striking again. Green was
overpowered, and among prisoners
who rushed to Franks aid were two
physicians, one of whom also was serv-
ing life term for murder.
The two convict physicians gave first
aid and treated the wound until DR..
Guy Compton, the prison physician. was
summoned from his home half mile
away. The three men took twenty
five stitches in Franks neck. DR.. H. j..
Rosenberg, the Frank family physician.
arrived from Atlanta today with
nurses. He said that while his con-
dition is precarious. he has a chance
for life.
Mrs. Frank was in Milledgeville at
the home Of ]. NJ. Burns. She was not
told Of the attack until after the ply
sicians had finished their work. She
became hysterical, but later was calm
ed, and was taken to the prison hos
pital.
Jugular Vein Partly Severed.
The cut extends from the front Of the
neck around the left side to almost the
middle Of the back Of the neck. Neither
the wind pipe nor the spinal cord is hurt.
but one Of the jugular veins Is partly
severed. The physicians greatest fear
tonight was that some of the stitches
might slip, causing more loss of blood.
Frank has benefited a great deal by
the outdoor life since being brought to
the farm June 81. Though a small man,
he always has had a rugged constitution.
and that, coupled with his exercise of the
last three weeks, were in his favor, the
doctors said. He took some nourishment
today
Frank knew of the demonstrations
against the action Of former Gov. Slaton,
whose term recently expired, in COM
muting his sentence. and also of threats
to take him from the prison farm by force.
Those who reached his side first last night
after he was wounded believe he had this
all in mind when he said: Il guess they
have got me now" He did not lose con-
seriousness, and after being taken to the
hospital requested that his assailant be
forgiven.
Green was sentenced from Columbus
for killing a man named Kitchen. Short
ly after the crime a Jury inquired into
his sanity, but declared him sane. Satur-
day he was helping to kill hogs with other
prisoners. He concealed in his clothing
the knife he Used in the butchering. and
later. it is believed. secreted it in his
bunk.