Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-19
FIGHTING CHANCE
FOR LEO NJ. FRANK
Slayer of Mary Phagan May Sur
vi~e Jagged Wound in
His Throat.
CONDITION is PRECARIOUS
Green, His Assailant, Says He
Had No Confederates in
Attempted Murder.
CONDITION is PRECARIoUs

M1LLEDGEVILLE. GA, July 1s.-
Leo N. Frank lay in tho State Prison
Hospital here to-right with what at
'endants said was hghtng chance
for recovery. Physicians had sue
cecded In stopping the flow OF blood
from Jagged wound in his throat
made with an improvised knife in the
hands of William Green. fellow
convict, also serving ii life term for
murder. The blow was struck as
Frank slept in his bunk in a dormitory
late last night.
This latest and most spectacular
phase Of the two-year fight for Franks
life may bc the subject of an invcsti-
Sation by the Georgia Pr.son Com
mission which refused to recommend
that Franks death sentence for the
murder OF Mary Phagan be committed
TO life imprisonment Reports from
Atlanta were that Governor Harris
minated to-day nc would start such
AN investigation TO ascertain II Green
acted entirely OF his own voli,ion
PLANS AND EXECUTES
ATTACK by HIMSELF
Green said to-day, when taken from
solitary confinement long enough to
DC questioned that he planned and
executed the attack alone. He was not
Communicative to-day. and gave as his
only excuse that "hc thought II was
right" He said that he regretted his
act.
Frank was quartercd in a dorm!tory
With about 100 other prisoners and
occupied bunk about forty feet from,
one OF the TWO doors 10 tho large room.
Green's bunk was fourth from him
No prisoner is allowed to leave his
place without permission from one Of
Inc two guards on duty Shortly after
i! o'clock last night Green called for
permission 10 get up and IL was grant
60 lie started down the line of bunI<s
toward the one occupied by Frank. AS
ne reached IT, he quickly grabbed
frank by the hair and delivered
one blow with the knife he had
concealed The act was witnessed
oF the guard. who rushed TO the DUNK
ana prevented Green from striking
asa'h' Green was overpowered and
among the prisoners who rushed to
fEanh aid were two physicians. one
OF whom also was serving a life term
for murder
The two convic, physicians gave ers,
Guy Compton, the prison physician. was
summoned from his home. half mile
away The three men took tw.ntv-fve
stitches in Franks neck. Dr y
Rosenberg. tho Frank family phvsician
arrived from Atlanta to-day with
nurses fic said while Franks condi-
tion is precarious h. has a chance fo-
life
BECoMES HYSTEHICAI.
WHEN TOLD OF ASSAULT
Mrs Frank was in Millcds.viue =
the home OF j VI. Burns. Sh. w.s no,
;o!d Of the attack until after the n,,v-
sicians had finished their work size
became hysterical but later w.s
ctimcd and was taken to the nriso,
hospital
The cut extends from the front of
the neck around the left side TO almost
the middle of the back OF the neck
Neither the windpipe nor the spInal
cord is hurt. but the jugular vein is
partly severed. The physicians great.
est fear tonight was that some OF Tn.
stitches might slip, causing more loss
OF blood
Frank has benefited by the outdoor
life since being brought to the farm
on June II. Though n small man. he
always has had rugged constitution
and that. coupled with his exercise of
the last three weeks. is in his favor.
the doctors said He took some nour
ishmcnr to-day
Frank knew of the demonstrations
against the action Of Governor Slaton
whose term recently expired. in com
nutns his sentence. and also of
threats t" take him from the prison
farIn by force. Those who reached his
slde hrst last night after he was
wounded believe he had this all in
mind when he said: II guess they have
got me now. He did not lose con-
sciousness. and after being taken to
the hospital requested that his assa,,-
ant be forgiven.
Green was sentenced from Columbus
for killing man named K,tcben
shortly after the crime, Jury in
Guired into his sanity but declared
him sane. On Saturday he was beInin,
to Kill hogs with other prisoners uc
concealed in his clothing the knife ho
used in the butcherinE and later !, :.
believed, secreted it in his bunk
AZ . o'clock tonight DR. c,omn,o,
announced that Franks temner.tura
was 90. and that his pulse was eood
He added that the patient was in ~
immediate danger.