The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1915-08-26
FIReT ACTUAL DESCRIPTION OF
DEATH RIDE Has JUST BE-
COME AVAILABLE,
PRISONER DID NOT CONFESS
Loved Wife and Mother Better
Than Life-LynchIna Termed
Legal Hanging"

| tual story Of all that transpired on
the death ride of Leo M. Frank from
Mtlledgev1lle to Marietta between mid
night and dawn has just become avail.
able. The recital came in a manner
which seemingly placed its authentici-
ty beyond all question. The narrator,
however, will not be witness before
the Cobb county grand jury which on
Sept. / will be asked to undertake q
thorough investigation of the lynching.
1t also became known that Cover.
nor Nat E. Harris, during the past
few days has received several anony-
nous threatening letters purporting
to warn him not to go "too far" in
his investigation of the lynching. The
governor Is not inclined to take the
letters at all seriously but looks upon
them as the outgrowth Of the disturb
cd sentiment of the moment.
Frank Did Not Confess.
Inside story" of the events which
preceded the finding of Franks body
cleared up many phases of the incident
which heretofore have been yelled in
| mystery. Points asserted by the mar
rator were:
First-F'rank did not confess. He
twice was asked if he had anything
to say, but on each occasion replied,
mo-" Asked pointedly if he killed
the Phagan girl he is said to have
made no reply whatever.
Second attempt was made to
force confession. Franks statement
just prior to his death that he loved
his wife and mother better than he did
his life came Unexpectedly and with.
out questioning.
Third-Frank was not maltreated in
any way prior to the actual lynching.
Stories that he may have met violent
death before he was hanged are with.
out foundation.
! Fourth-Frank walked a distance of
200 yards from the automobile to the
death tree without faltering step,
without sigh or semblance Of a pro.
test.
Dying Wish Carried Out.
Fearing perhaps that his body might
never reach his relatives, he asked
that the wedding ring he wore be de-
livered to a newspaperman with the
solemn promise that it would be turn
ed over to his wife. This wish was
carried out.
Fifth-Frank was told from the start
that he was to be executed as the
courts had directed that he be, and
every effort was made by the so-called
vigilance committee" to see that the
Illegal hanging as they termed the
lynching, was carried out in an or
derly manner.
| Members Of the vigilance commit
tee" are said to resent any intimation
that Frank was "maltreated'' while in
their custody. They assert he was
given exactly the same consideration
usually given to a condemned man ON
the day of his execution. The rough
handling of the body after it was cut
down was matter concerning which
members of the "committee' feel they
we're not responsible.
Sixth-The members Of the "vigi.
lance committee" said they had a sac.
red duty to perform in carrying out
the mandate of the courts of the state
and the United States. There was no
mob spirit, no demonstration and there
il said to have been no idea of hanging
Frank in the public square at Marietta
or in the cemetery whore Mary Pha,
gan lies buried.