The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1915-08-24
WARDEN SEAY TALKS
OF The STATE FARM
GIVES AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF
THE LIFE OF LEO FRANK AT
THAT INSTITUTION.
GOULD NOT AVERT LYNCHING
Prison Not SO Built as Such Assaults
Could Be Successfully Resisted.
What Frank Did From His Recep-
ton Until He Was Lynched.

What Frank Did From His Recep-
ton Until He Was Lynched.
SAVANNAH, Ga.-Authentic in its
every respect, an account of the life
of Leo M. Frank from the time the
notorious prisoner became an inmate
of the state farm at Milledgeville un-
til the night he was kidnapped by a
mob of frenzied Georgians was con-
vincingly related to a Press reporter
this morning by Mr.. John Seay, depu~
ty warden of the prison, who came to
Savannah for the purpose of convey
ing a woman to Milledgeyille to do"
five years. The visitor is registered
at the Hotel Collins.
He says he has the real inside
dope" on the career of the murderer
of Mary Phagan during the time
Frank was clothed in stripes.
We'll, l reckon you want to know
something about that mob, young fell
low" began the deputy warden in the
Collins lobby this morning immedi-
ateIy after he had been "cornered'
by a representative of the Press.
Talked With Smith.
The reporter admitted that he did.
The visitor continued: Luckily for
me, I wasn't at the prison the night
Green sliced Franks neck or the
night the Georgia crackers took our
prisoner out to hang. But l know
all about it, because it's my bust
ness.
Warden Smith is an able and COM
petent man and greatly regrets what
has happened. Since Frank was car
ried out of MilIedgeville the warden
and I have talked the matter over
thoroughly and although he is en-
tirely blameless he is deeply hurt
over the unfortunate occurrence.
The mob that took Frank from
the state farm had been watching
| the prison since the day Mary Pha-
ganis slayer donned his prison stripes.
! They knew every inch of the ground
and knew where every official slept,
and l guess if had been sleeping on
the premises that night Id have been
handcuffed, too.
Was Premeditated.
The whole affair was carefully
and thoughtfuIly premeditated from
the beginning. The kidnapping was
! the most systematic work that's ever
been heard of in Georgia. The whole
| lob was done in ten minutes-so
quickly that the prisoners, the war
den and the superintendent didn't
have time to realize just what it was
all about
Mr.. Seay then said that tine state
farm was a place that was meant
! for infirm isoners-prisOners who
were unable to work on the chain
gangs-and for this reason was en-
tirely unequipped and unprepared to
resist a murderous mob. ut was be-
lieved by Mr.. Smith, Mr.. Burke, the
superintendent, that the trouble was
over after Green had made his at
| tempt on Franks life" said Mr.. Seay
Before Frank was cut did he have
a 'cinch?'" asked the Press repre-
| sentative.
Donned the Stripes.
He did not" replied the deputy
warden. Il was at the farm the day
Frank registered. He donned the
stripes twenty minutes after he en-
tered the prison and kept them on
until his throat was cut by a fellow
prisoner
Did Frank do any work." was
the next query shot at the visitor.
''He worked hard for man in his
condition said MI. Seay. When
Frank reached Milledgeville he had
been in jail two years and ne was in
bad shape physically, and on account
of this his duties were somewhat
lighter than they would have been
ordinarily. He did not work in the
field, but spent the entire morning
sweeping the prisoners room, which