Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-19
CONVICT CUTS
FRANKS THROAT
William Green Slashes
Prisoner With Butcher
Knife.
IF STITCHES HOLD
FRANK MAY LIVE
Attack Took Place in Dormitory-
Green's Bunk Was Located Near
Franks and Afforded Opportunity
Slash Extends Almost Around Mock.
"They've Got Mo Now" Said the
Victim.

Milledgevllle, Ga. July 19.-Leo
Frank was probably fatally cut In the
throat Saturday evening by q knife
In the hands of William Green. a con-
vict serving life sentence tn the
Georgia state prison. Physicians last
recovery.
Physicians who examined Leo NJ.
Frank in the prison early today said
his condition was much worse. The
jagged cut in his throat was swollen
and his temperature was 10 2-5.
William Green. fellow convict also
serving a life term for murder. slashed
Frank as the latter slept In his bunk
in dormitory late Saturday night.
The weapon used was butcher knife.
AN investigation 0s the attack rreh-
ably will be made by the Georgia pris-
on commission, the same body that re-
fused to recommend Communication to
life Imprisonment Of Franks death
sentence for the murder Of Mary
Phagan.
Reports from Atlanta were that Gov
ernor Harris intimated he would start
such an investigation to ascertain II
Green acked Of his own volition.
Green said, when taken from solitary
confinement long enough to be ques-
toned, that he planned the attack
alone and that no one knew what he
intended to do. He was not communi-
cative end gave as his only excuse
that he thought 1t should be done."
He said, however. he regretted his act.
While Frank was on the operating
table Warden Smith took Green's state :
mept. II am awfully sorry that did
this" he is reported TO have said. =" A,
the moment thought that was do
ing what was right. thought that
was doirg something that ought to be
done.
II am sorry because OF he criticism
that II may bring on the officials OF
the state farm, especially OF Warden
Smith. wouldn't do a thing In the
world to injure him in his position. Hs
had confidence in me and l have vlo-
lated that confidence. ] am ready to
suffer,the consequences"
Greer said Frank was asleep when
attacked There was only one knife
wound.
After Green made his statement he
was put in irons and placed In solitary
confinement.
Details Of Attack.
Frank was quartered at night in a
dormitory with about 100 ether pris-
oners and occupied bunk about forty
feet from one OF the two doors to the
~. hytr1k the
fourth from his.
No prisoner Is allowed to leave his
place. without permission from one Of
the two guards stationed at the dor
mitory. Shortly after II o'clock last
night, Green called out for permission
to get UP and it was granted.
He started down the line Of hunks
toward the one occupied by Frank. AS
he reached It he quickly grabbed
Frank by the hair and delivered one
blow with the knife he had concealed.
A guard rushed to the bunk and pre-
vented Green from striking again.
Among prisoners who rushed to
Franks aid were two physicians one
iof whom also Is serving life term
for murder. They gave first aid and
treated the wound until DR.. Guy Comp
ton. the prison physician. was sum-
moned from his home half mile
away. The three men took twenty
five stitches in Franks neck.
Or. II. J. Rosenberg. the Frank fam
ily physician, arrived from Atlanta Sum
day with nurses. He said that while
the patients condition was precarious.
he had chance for life.
Mrs. Frank was in Milledgeville at
the home Of ]. NJ. Burns at the time OF
the stabblns. She was not told OF the
attack until after the physicians had
finished their work. She became hys-
terical, but later was calmed and was
taken to the prison hospital.
The cut extends from the front OF
the neck around the left side to al
most the middle OF the back Of the
neck. Neither the windpipe nor the
spinal cord was hurt but the jugular
vein was partly severed. The physi-
clans greatest fear today was that
some OF the stitches might slip. caus-
ing more loss OF blood.
Frand Said, They've Got Ne"
Frank knew of the demonstrations
against the action Of Governor Slaton.
whose term recently expired. In COM
muting his sentence, and also OF the
threats to take MIN from Inc prison
farm by force. Those who reached
his aide frst after he was wounded
helieved he had all this In mind when
he said:
Tguess they have got me row." He
aid not lose consciousness and after
being taken to the hospital asked that
his assailant be forgiven.
Physicians Are Hopeful.
Dr. n. ]. Rosenberg, the Frank fam
ily physician, who returned to Atlanta
last night believed Franks condition
warranted HIS leaving. He and another
Atlanta doctor were summoned back
today.
Early today Frank was restless, his
Temperature continued to rise and al
nbo,it daylight he WAS delirious at br!e!
intervals His temperature reached TN
nsxhest shortly after 8 o'clock and thel