Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-08-18
PRISON FARM
DORM|TORY IS
EASY MARK
Tear Prisoner From His Bed
While Institution Authorities
Seem Helpless.
PLAN TO MuT1LATE
CORPSE STOPPED.
Body Swings for Hours From
Tree Before a Big
Morbid Crowd.
OFFICIALS.

mlIIeu3evllle, "a, Aug. H.
Prison officials here are held to
be bIameless in connection with
the Kidnapping Of Leo. N. Frank
frnm the state prison farm, in a
statement given out tonight by
r. e. Davidson, chairman of the
state prison commission. Mr..
Davidson, with Commissioners
Bailey and Patterson, was here
to inspect the penitentiary when
Frank was seized.
The commission has full power,
not excepting that vested in tho
governor, to conduct or order an
investigation.
Mr.. Davidsons statement said
that as the band was 80 quickly
and so we'll organized and immed-
lately, Upon its arrival at the
prison, 90 completely controlled
the situation, that mo responsi-
bility -e5ted on either the com
mission Or anybody q the farm"
Marietta. Ga, Aug. 17-Leo M
Frank, convicted of the murder Of
Mary Phagan, was taken from the
state prison farm of Milledgeville
last night by small band of deter
mined men, was brought to within a
few miles of the Phagan home In this
city at daylight today and hanged to
a tree, near the Observation-Disclosures
vile highway.
The body, which was found at 8
O'Clock this morning, dangled from
the tree for several hours. BY a
vote Of tle crowd which had gather
ed, the body was cut down without
mutilation ard was taken by automo
bile to Atlanta, where another throng
congregated to view it.
Institute Investigation.
officials Of Cobb county, in which
the lynching occurred, Immediately
instituted an investigation. Coroner
Booth impane.ed a Jury and announc-
ed that the county commissioners
had empowered him to employ addi-
tiolal counsel. Two witnesses ap,
peared before tae jury, which ad.
journed its session for week, while
officials collect evidence.
From Murdered Girls Home.
While the identity of no member
of the band was known to the Off
cials tonight, 1t was suggested that
the fact that Frank was taken nearly
100 miles in an automobile from the
state prison almost to the outskirts
OF Marietta indicated that most Of
the lynchers came from this city.
The body was found hanging from
an oak tree, clothed only in the silk
shirt which Frank wore when he was
torn from bed in the prison dormi.
tory. A white handkerchief covered
his face. his feet and legs were firm
ly bound and under his right jaw was
the knot of the hangman's loop, ex.
pertly tied to produce quick death.
No Mutilation Of Body.
News of the discovery OF the body
spread quickly and a great crowd
had gathered before the arrival of
Coroner Booth. The latter's an.
nouncement that it would be cut
down imnEed lately aroused some obs
jeciion. There were cries of Don't
move the Jews body until we shoot
it full Of holes" but an appeal by
former Superior Judge N. A. Morris
Of Cobb county Quieted the crowd.
Hurried TO Atlanta.
After the body was cut down, 1t
was placed in an undertaker's wagon,
which headed toward Marietta, but
officials feared that the crowd might
become unruly and stopped the wag.
on on the outskirts Of the town and
transferred the body to an autom0-
bile, which hurried to Atlanta.
When the body was cut down parts
OF Franks shirt were torn away by
souvenir hunters. The body was
roughly handled before it was put in.
to the undertaker's wagon.
Excitement in Marietta rapidly
subsidized after the body was cut
down. Il
There seemed to be every indica-
ton that the hanging had been care
fully planned. The ease with which
Frank was released from the state
prison farm, the difficulty left in the
way Of pursueEs and the sudden dis.
(COntinued OY, Dace tWO.) 5