The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-07-22
AN OLD We RREN COUNTY, (GA.)
FRIEND WRITES,


Dear Tom: We commenced our
journeys through life about the same
time-in the year 1855; was born
and raised not over fifteen or twenty
miles apart. [ first kne~- you in the
early '60s, hence I have known you
something like half century: Our
chances and opportunities were about
the same; neither of US had any
money to begin with. You have
made a wonderful success of life,
and now enjoy not only National
reputation, but are known extensive
ly abroad, while [ have made an en-
tire failure. For over half a century
l have watched your career very
closely and with great interest in
deed, and as we together grow old,
the greater that interest is becoming
until today | regard you as one of
the cleanest, bravest and brainiest
men on this continent.
l have always voted for you when
an opportunity presented itself,
although [ have disagreed with you
on several political issues, simply on
account of short-sightednes and
want OF grey matter in the upper
story. Time has proven that you
were right and [ was in error.
/ have been wanting to write, a
long time, ngratulatory letter on
your success in life, but have been
reticent and tardy on account Of the
great difference in our spheres of life
and have been afraid to tackle you,
but since reading your several ar
tiCles on the Frank case, I can stand
Of
Georgia, the Empire State of the
South, it does my heart good to know
that there is still one man left within
her boundaries who is not ashamed
or afraid to publicly defend her. In
my humble judgment, this was one Of
the blacklist crimes that ever oc-
Cured within her domain.
| was really betting on Jack Slaton,
but he has fooled me in committing
this sentence. Jack has virtually
said, II believe Frank is guilty, but
he is a Hebrew with some moneyed
friends and I, therefore, commute
his sentence" Now, if he is guilty,
hanging is entirely too good for him;
he should be roasted alive, and if he
is not guilty he should be absolutely
turned loose, a free man while he
says that he has washed his hands
of this mans blood. They are still
deeply stained with the life blood of
little Mary Phagan, the martyred
maiden who died in defense of her
virtue and honor. Though dead, she
has left an example and record wor-
thy of the emulation of every maiden
of the State against the onslaughts
and insults Of such beastly characters
as Frank The little Gordon of militia
may be instrumental in protecting
Slaton from the wrath of weak men,
and he may possibly sneak out of
Atlanta under the cover of darkness
at the midnight hour, unframed, and
become lost in oblivion to the people
of Georgia, but whether he is among
the Alpine Rocks, Arabian sands or
Polar snow, the eye of the Omnipo-
tent will ever be upon him, for there
is Higher Power that controls the
destinies of men, who will see to it
that both restitution and retribution
is justly dealt with to each of his
kind for such deeds against whom
the army and navy of the world
would cut no ice and with whom all
the Doodle of the earth would have
no effect. No doubt remorse has
already set up in his conscience, if
he has one; if he is void of which no