The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-08-27
MOB HANGS FRANK.
LYNCHING CARRIED OUT In COLD, DE
LIBERATE FASHION, WHICH SUG-
GESTS CAREFUL PREPARATION N
OFFICERS WARNED NOT TO FOLLOW
BODY STILL WARM WHEN FOUND.


Leo nj. Frank, convicted as the
SLAYER OF Mary Phagan, who was kid
named from Milledgeville Prison
Farm, ca, late Monday night by an
armed band of 25 men In automobiles
the first automobile lynching mob
In the history OF the South-was
found Tuesday morning hanging by
the neck dead in little oak grove
two miles from Marietta.
He had been lynched by the strang-
est mob that ever took the law into
its own hands. He had been spirited
half across a state from his prison to
the scene Of his execution. IT, had
been hanged in "a cold, deliberate,
orderly fashion, and that within two
miles of the grave Of the Cobb county
girl for whose murder he was SEN
fenced to die, his sentence being
committed to life Imprisonment at the
State Prison Farm.
Frank met death at the hands of
Iynchers just as he was recovering
from injuries inflicted in night at
tack by a fellow-convict month ago,
when his throat was slashed with
butcher knife.
The story Of the fynching Of leo
Frank reads like the widest tale or
adventure and romance. III seems 1n-
conceivable that a party OF slightly
more than score of men could jour-
ney for hours across the State, at
tack the State prison, oyerpower the
guards, capture a prisoner and carry
him 140 miles to designated spot,
and there at daybreak execute the
death penalty with all the grim de-
liberation and much of the terrible
panoply Of judicial procedure.
Wherever the mob originated, Al AZ
came from one section, the utmost
caution was observed. The cars must
have departed for Milledgeville one &C
time at considerable intervals, for
no one reports seeing them grouped
until the final dash away from the
State prison with the prisoner on
board.
All day Monday the mob must have
been travelling in sections toward the
prison farm. The sections met, or
gained, post sentries and waited
for nightfall.
Everything was timed with wonder
full accuracy. The leader waited I'M
til everyone who lived at the prison
would be asleep, but he left time
enough to run the 40 miles to Cobb
county before daylight. There was
no haphazard work. 1t was all dead
ly businesslike.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock J. R. Smith,
warden, was awakened in his home at
the edge Of the farm grounds. There
was an insistent rapping az his door.
FL opened it.
hi face.
''If you make noise you're dead
man." he was assured.
The warden did not make noise.
He was handcuffed. His keys were
taken In similar fashion and with
the same speed and precision-lndi-
eating thorough knowledge of the
prison grounds Superintendent
Burke was captured at his home.
Then the three guards in the prison
Office were Overpower and secured,
thu leaders Of The mob using their
keys and knowledge Of the prison
with remarkable assurance.
Frank slept in a room adjoining the
Office, and it seems the mob leaders
knew that, too. Their next move was
upon him.
The door was opened noislessly and
a fiashlight aroused the doomed man.
He started up in bed, his eyes wide
with a sudden fear. But he had no
time for outcry Oh protest.
Two men-evidently delegated to
the task-the guards stated later,
leaped upon the frail form of the
prisoner and dragged him from his
bed. His feeble struggles did not
even inconvenience the men who held
him. His hands were shackled with
handouts His ankles were tied with
a rope. About his hips prison
blanket was wrapped.
1t was not until he was bound that
Frank found his voice. Then his
pleadings were frightful and incoher-
ent One of hi captors roughly told
him to shut up."
You'll get justice-never fear"
was added by some member Of the
mob.
With the same speed and precision
Frank was hustled out through the
Office and into the largest of the
waiting motorcars. There were eight
in all. At a hurried command the
party broke up into crews for all the
cars.
The man who seemed to be the
leader turned to the huddle Of bound
officials and guards On the floor. He
addressed them:
Leo Frank will be taken to Mari
eta" he stated firmly He will be
hanged over the grave Of Mary Pha-
gan. If you try to follow us or inter
fere with US in any way you will be
killed. Take this as a solemn warn
ing"