Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-08-19
cEoRoIA's DISGRACE.


Georgia Is one OF the grandest
States Of the Union and particularly
Of the South. Her history 10 rich with
the patriotic deeds of her people and
the eloquence Of her statesmen. She
Is one Of the brightest gems In the
dladem OF the Old South. and Georgia
nativity is a birthright cherished by
all her sons and daughters.
But Georgia has been disgraced, her
fair name has become hiss and by
word. and her proud banners are
trailing In the dust OF degration and
infamy. II II were possible. what a
cry Of protest would come from the
graves OF the Stephens. the Gradys.
the HAIRLESS, the Toombs. the
Browns. the Howells and other Illus
trious names who helped TO place
Georgia high on the roll OF fame.
In the lynching OF Leo Frank the
whole country stands appalled,. and
the whole Nation feels the shame and
contamination OF sister State. In
discussing the lynching OF Frank. the
Waco Times.EIerald says:
The lynching OF Leo Frank while
) 1o was n prisoner In the Georgia pen
itentiary. the details OF which appear.
ed In the Times.Herald news columns
yesterday. is the elimination Of one
Of the most desperate and determined
fights recorded In the annals OF crimi
nal court trials In this or any other
country. From the first accusations
against Frank In Atlanta until the
mob took him from the guards at the
penitentiary Monday night and hang
ed him. there was a clamor for hi
fife OF such ferocious character as 4
arouse the entire country TO demon
STATIONS Of sympathy for the accused
man. and when Governor Slaton com
muted his sentence OF death 20 III
Imprisonment on grounds OF Insult
cient testimony and the influence o.
the mob upon court and jury in the
trial. the Justice OF public demani
that his life be spared was thorough,
established. Then came the disgrace
full scenes around the home OF IN,
Governor when II required stroni
force OF militia TO keep the mob away
The world was next startled by IN,
report that fellow prisoner In tn,
penitentiary had cut Franks throat
He had Just been released from III,
prison hospital when the mob over
powered officials and guards, took IN,
object OF their hate from the grasl
Of the law and hanged him. The his
tory Of our courts contains no paral
lei to the Frank case. Innocent mel
and women have doubtless been hurl
ed into eternity through court pre-
cesses. many guilty one has escape,
justice. but where. except In Atlanta
has a court OF justice trying a whit
man for his life been controlled by
mob clamoring for the prisoner
blood? In what State save Georgi
has the mob spirit been strong enougl
TO 20 into its penitentiary and TAX
therefrom It's victimg
There may be others. but II so the,
are not now recalled and II there b
other communities guided by tn
spirit OF hatred and revenge to IN
exclusion OF law and the dictates O
humanity, that fact would not in III
least alter the case or relieve Georgi
from the odIum that attaches TO tina
State. And In contemplating IN
Frank case We are not forgetting tina
= attt1t uoitiDif tItfut was commute
in the factory Of which he was supel
intendent; that an innocent girl wa
murdered, worse than murdered
sacrificed to the lust OF beast &
the form OF man. No punishment I
sufficient to atone for such a Grim
as that. But before punishment cal
Faithfully be inflicted the guilty maj
must be found and his guilt estai
lished by law. Was Frank legal
convicted on evidence that remove
all doubt OF his guilt? The Judge VIII
tried him expressed doubt upon thi
question. one member OF the Court O
Appeals declared his belief tina
Frank had not been given n fair tria
and Governor slaton. who reviewe
the case. denounced the methods tina
were resorted TO 10 secure a convic
ton and gave the defendant the hene
IL OF the doubt by saving his life. bu
oonsigning him 10 prison, there TO re
main until the truth became known