Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-31
FINAL FIGHT FOR FRANK
IS SET TO BEGIN TO-DAY
Georgia Prison Commission Wi,
Hear Application for Commu.
tation OF Sentence.
GREAT INTEREST IN E
Spokesman OF Delegations Frorl
Many Points Outside Of State vii,
Speaks in His Rehalf-More Th,,,
100000 Arguments and Letters

ATLANTA. May 3O.-The hcarirv
Leo NJ. Franks application for cor,
mutation Of sentence from death 10 ,t
Imprisonment on the charge of having
murdered Mary Phagan. is set to be-
gin here Tomorrow before tho Coon
yia Prison Commission. composed
Il. +. Davidson. chairman; r F. "a,
tcrson and r.. l.. Raincy. II is n-e
dictcd that the hearing will occu,.
not more than two DAYS, but i, is M,
believed the prisoner will appear No..
sonally
IL became known ,v-night that coup
SCI Tor Frank VIII file with the com
mission a letter written by tho I,to
Judge l.. :. Roam. who presided at tba
trial The letter was ihtrusted Ia
Luther T. L.. Rosscr, OF counseI fnr
Frank AT his trial. and liz said to have
been written by Judge Roam Just b..
fore his death. with the request tina,
II be presented to the prison com,nis
sion IN the event the case ever r.achat
that body. II is understood that Judpn
lioan in his letter reiterated his doub,
As To Franks guilt. and urged cxecu
tive clemency.
Former Congressman W VI. Howard
or Augusta. who Will have charr. NJ
"''h NdS', " III MAKE lne nrlnClna1
argument in behalf of tho Young f.r
tory superintendent, whose case has
attracted such nationwide attention,
ana in which there has been aroused
public interest seldom IL ever erualed
in the legal annals OF the country. =,
addition TO the arguments by the pris-
oner's attorneys, II is expected ,h.,
spokesman OF delegations from several
Georgia cities and from Chicago. Ros
ton and possibly other points outside
tho state VIII be granted time for oral
pleas In Franks behalf
solicitor Dorsey. who prosecuted
Frank. said tonight he had not de-
cidcd whether he would appear before
the commission. His appearance ne
said. would depend on developments OF
the hearing. Reports that Mary Pha.
gan's family nigh, be represented In
opposition to the application have not
been confirmed
PROCEDURE BEFORE
PRISON COMMISSION
The prison commission. under the
usual procedure, considers petitions
briefs and ahidavits bearing upon thcI
case, hears arguments both for andI
against the application. and II II de-
sires may orally examine witnesses tor]
either side. particularly II any new
evidfnce, not produced III court pro-
ccedinIs. is presented. According to
Franks counsel the most Important
new evidence 10 be submitted will he
a statement. or possibly an affidavit,
by Mrs. Frank. setting forth what
she knows Of her husbands case. Mrs.
Frank was not permitted b. law 10
testify at the trial.
Franks counsel also have stated they
viii offer to produce Frank to testify
before the board. since under the State
laws. person accused OF murder is
barred from examination under oath
at his trial. The commissioners have
not indicated whether they will call
him.
There already has been fled with
the Governor and the prison board a
mass OF petitions Ia Franks behalf
from state Legislatures and commit
tees and societies OF various kinds
from all over the country. and in
addition there have been presented
more than 1000 arguments and let
ters in the prisoners favor from Law
yers. Governors. United states senators,
Congressman. jurists. editors. minis
ters and other public men and from
individuals in all walks OF !ite.
Tine commission expects 10 consider
some OF the most important OF these
communications in addition to the
briefs. record Of court proceedings and
oral arguments made at tho hearing
before formulating their recomm enda-
tons to the Governor on Frank APP
pliCation.