The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-06-23
GOV. SLAT0N C0MMUTES
SENTENCE Of LEO FRANK
Execution Set for Tuesday is Averted by Gov
ernor Slaton, Who Granted Communication
to Life Imprisonment

ing extended through several days
and ended June 16.
Before the prison commission oral
argument on Franks behalf was
made by his counsel and by jurists.
| lawyers and prominent citizens of
Georgia, Illinois and Massachusetts,,
Petitions bearing hundreds of thous-
ands of names from various state
legislatures, societies and committees
and thousands of letters urging Glenn
ency for Frank were presented to
the commission.
In opposition to the application
there were filed a letter from Solici-
tor Dorsey, who prosecuted Frank
and a protest from citizens of Cobb
county, Ca, where Mary Phagan for
merly resided.
Franks counsel, prior to the ap-
peal for executive clemency had
made seven unsuccessful attempts
before the county superior ard state
supreme courts to obtain a n,:w trial
or the setting aside of the ye,d:ct.
The federal district court refIse:t to
grant him a writ of habeas corpus and
the United States supreme court de-
clined to grant writ of error for re-
view of the case and also denied
Franks appeal in habeas corpus pro-
cedings. Four times the sentence
of death was passed upon him.
The first official announcement of
the Georgian's decision was made at
SAP o'clock this morning. Extra
editions of the local newspapers con-
tanning the unofficial Announcement,
caused considerable excitement
among a number of crowds of men,
who began gathering on various
street corners and around city hall,
and who discussed the governors
grant of clemency to Frank. Mounted
police and patrolmen were stationed
on the outskirts of the crowds and at
least one arrest was made. Com
ment derogatory to the decision was
heard in the gatherings.
In his statement exhaustively ex-
planning his reasons for committing
Franks sentence, Governor Slaton
reviewed the circumstances sur
rounding the murder of Mary Phagan
in the National Pencil factory here
on April 26, 1913, the conviction of
Frank and his appeal for clemency.
He mentioned the attention attracted
to the case all over the country and
the widespread appeals for commuta-
ton.
Continuing, the statement reads:
"The murder was a most heinous
one and the offender deserves the
punishment of death. The only ques-
ton is as to the identity of the GRIM
inal. The responsibility is upon the
people of Georgia. to protect the lives
of her citizens and to maintain the
dignity of her laws and if the choice
must be made between the approba-
tion of citizens of other States and
the enforcement of our laws against
offenders we must choose the latter
alternative.
''It is charged that the court and
jury were terrorized by a mob and
that the jury were coerced into their
verdict. When Frank was indicted
and the air was filled with rumors as
to the murder and mutiliation of the
girl there was intense feeling, and to
such an extent that my predecessor,
Governor Brown, stated in argument
before me that he had the militia
ready to protect the defendant if any
attack was made.
Governor Menaced.
Last night mob of several hun
dred people, threatening the Cover
nor, assembled in front of his home
which was guarded by country police.
Stones and missiles were hurled at
the officers. 1t was necessary for
the Governor to declare martial law
and to call out the militia in order
to disperse the mob. The Governor
was hanged in efigy in many Georgia
towns, in the town of Newman, along
with Frank.