Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1915-07-21
Leo NJ. Franks Throat CHI
Fellow Prisoner Uses a Butcher Knife With
Terrible Effect. Frank May Recover.

Terrible Effect. Frank May Recover.
Milledgeville, Ga, July 49,
Lao M. Frank lay in the State
prison hospital here tonight with
what attendants said was q fight.
ing chance for recovery. Physi-
oians had succeeded in stopping
the flow of blood from a jagged
wound IN his throat made with an
lmprovised knife in the. hands of
William Green, q fellow convict,
also serving life term for mur.
der. The blow was struck while
Frank slept in his bunk in the
dormitory late last night. This
latest and most spectacular phase
of the two. years fight for Franks
life may be the subject of an i'll.
vestigation by the Georgia Prison
Commission. which refused to re-
com mmend that Franks death sen.
tence for the murder of MarV
Phagan he commuted to life i'm.
prisonment. Reports from A.
lanta were that Governor Harms
intimated today he would start
such an investigation to ascertain
if Green acted entirely of his own
volition.
Green said today, when taken
from solitary confinement long
enough to be questioned, that he
planned and executed the attack
alone. He was not communica.
tive today and gave as his only ex-
cuse that she thought it should
be done" He said, however, that
he regretted bis act.
Frank was quartered in a dor
mitory with about 100 other pris-
oners aud occupied bunk about
40 feet from one of the two doors
to the large room. GREEN'S bunk
was fourth from him. No prison.
or 10 allowed to leave bis place
without permission from one of
the two guards on duty. Short.
ly after IL 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 be quick.
ly grabbed Frand by the hair and
delivered one blow with the knife
he had concealed. The attack was
witnessed by the guard who rushed
to the bunk aud prevented Green
from striking again. Green was
overpo wered and among prisoners
who rushed to Franks aid we're
two physicians. one of whom also
was serving q life term for mur.
der.
The two convict physicians gave
| frat aid and treated the Wound
until Doctor Compton. the prison
physician, was summoned from
his home half mile away. The
three men took 25 stitches in
Franks neck. Dr.. H J. Rosen.
burg, the Frank family physician
arrived today with nurses. He
said that while Franks condition
is precarious he has a chance fol-
life.
The cut extends from the front
of the neck around the left side tc
almost the middle of the back ct
the neck. Neither the windpipe
nor the spinal cord is hurt, but
the jugular vein is partly severed,
The physioian's greatest fear to-
night was that some of the stitchet
might slip, causing more loss o1
blood.
Frank knew of the demonstra-
tions against the action of Gov
srnor Slaton, whose term recently
expired in committing his sent
enoe and also threats to take hin
from the prison farm by force
Those who reached his side frs
last night as he WAS wounded be
lieve he had all this in mind whel
he said:
II guess they have got me now.
He did not lose consciousness an,
after being taken to the hospits
he requested that his assailant b
forgiven.
Green was sentenced from Co
umbus for killing a man name
Kitchen. Shortly after the Grim
a jury inquired into his sanity bu
declared him sane. Saturday b
was helping TO kill hogs with ott