Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-20

largely to a review of the happenings
at the prison the night of August Is,
when Frank was abducted. points out
that state officials had believed that
any attack on the place to get a pris-
Toner could be withstood until the Mil
jledgevilIe militia could be called out
The governor says, however, that the
gang that took Frank worked out well
laid plans so quickly that resistance
was impossible.
Gov. Harris gave out his statement
after a conference with the state prison
commission. at which it was intimated
plans for an investigation of the whole
affair would be discussed.
Offers 81 500 Reward.
In addition to issuing his statement
Ito the press on the subject OF the
llynching Gov. Harris signed procla-
nation Offering a reward of $500 for
the first three persons convicted of
participation in the killing of Frank.
There is only s2.5O0 available in the
reward fund of the state for the year
1915. 1t was thought at first the gov
ernor would offer this entire amount in
sums of $500 each for the first nve
men convicted He later changed the
sum to $500 for the first three men
convicted.
1
drawn to avoid stating the exact place
where the lynching occurred. 1t is gen
orally supposed Frank was put to
death on the oak tree near the Frey
gin in Cobb county. two miles outside
| Marietta, where the body subsequently
was found swaying in the early morn
ing breeze. The belief has been ex-
pressed in some quarters recently, how
ever. that the lynchers may have
strangled Frank farther down the road
toward Milledgeville and saved the
body for final disposition until they
! were we'll within the Cobb county line.
| 1t was in Cobb county that the Phagans
formerly lived, and it is generally ac-
cepted that the 1ynching plans were
! laid there.
In view of the doubt as to the exact
proclamation is made to read that the
prisoner was violently taken from the
| hospital of the state penitentiary in
Baldwin county, and found dead in the
August II. 1915. having met his death
at the hands of unknown parties"
Proceeding, the proclamation says
/ the persons engaged in the transac-
hended. The act of the armed band is
described in the proclamation as IAN
attack upon our civilization, besides
being a gross violation of the law,
good name of her people require to be
fully investigated and the offenders
brought to punishment"
Chamber of Commerce Acts.
The board of directors of the Atlanta
Chamber of Commerce yesterday
unanimously adopted resolutions urg-
ing the governor and other state Off
Gals to exert every effort to appre-
bend and convict the men who lynched
Leo NJ. Frank. The resolutions, which
refer to the mob as secret oath
bound organization" follow:
whereas on Monday night, August
is, an armed mob, after overpowering
the warden, superintendent and guards,
took from the state penitentiary, at
Milledgeville, Leo M. Frank, pris-
oner serving a life sentence, and
hanged him to tree in Cobb county,
near Marietta, and left him there dead,
therefore be 1T,
Resolved by the directors of the At
this crime and it's fragrant defiance of
officers of the law the state has been
disgraced, it's sovereignty insulted and
a grievous reproach cast upon our
civilization.
1T is no longer question of the
guilt or innocence of the prisoner, of
the right or wrong of the executive
clemency, or of the life of one man.
The question now is. Shall we have a
state government in fact, as well as in
name, or shall we be ruled by an or
ganized mob which scorns state author
ity, overpowers it's officers and exc
cutes with bloody hands the decree of
death agreed upon in midnight meet
ton?
Facing Anarchy.
The law-abiding people of Georgia,
who constitute the great mass of it's
citizenship. will not be silent or indif-
ferent when confronted by an issue like
this. What we are dealing with is
anarchy in its most dangerous form.
"If it continues no mans life will be
for one cause; tomorrow, unless the
lawless spirit is curbed, larger mob
will claim a hundred lives on some
other pretext. This spirit must be
crushed with relentless determination.
Therefore we call on the governor
and all officers of the land to use all
the power of the state to bring the
guilty parties to justice.
Resolved further. That we call upon
all true and brave Georgians to lift
crime and its perpetrators. Let every
man show that he is on the side Of law
and order, giving no countenance to
trucking demagogues who pander to
man. stand ready to support and
actively aid the officers of the law in
stamping out the mob spirit wherever
it is found"
Tree to Be Preserved.
MARIETTA, Ga, August 20.-The big
oak tree near the w. J. Frey cotton
gin, two miles from here, on which
the lifeless body of Leo NJ. Frank was
found dangling last Tuesday morning,
soon is to be surrounded with a con-
crete wall, according to an announce
ment made here tonight, and thus pre-
served by the owner to mark the death
place Of the alleged slayer of Mary
Phagan.
In the meantime the tree is being
guarded by watchmen both night and
day 1t was stated today that Mr.. Frey
had been offered 5000 for the tree. He
declined the offer. and in doing SO the
plan to build wall about the tragic
ally historic oak became known. The
watchmen were placed on duty to pre-
vent souvenir hunters or others from
molesting 1t.
Visitors to Marietta during the past
two days have been unusually numer-
Gus, and practically all have visited
the scene Of the lynching.
Letter From Frank, Received
IT, A. n.:>>.1@ n.-kL