The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-06-03
WIFE MAKES PLEA
TO PRISON BOARD
FOR FRANKS LIFE
In Affidavit Woman Whom Law
Soon May Make a Widow
Tells of Happy Married
Life With Convict.
SEEK STAY OF EXECUTION
Thousands of People Back Law
yer's Appeal For Executive
Clemency In Behalf of
Doomed Georgian.

| Ooo11Cu 0SS1 1ou.
Atlanta, Ca. June 1.-The last fight
to saw Leo NJ. Frank from he death
penalty began here today with prepara-
tons for the hearing before the state
prison commission or his application
for communication of sentence. Franks
counsel have fought his case through
the various state and federal courts and
before the United States supreme court
without a reversal of the original YER
dict Of conviction and the appeal for
clemency is his last resort. His execu-
ton has been set for June %, next.
! Former Congressman w. M. Howard
in charge of Franks case was prepared
to emphasize in his argument the doubt
as to the prisoners guilt expressed by
the late Judge Roam, who presided at
the trials, the dissenting opinions of
two judges of the state supreme court
when a decision was rendered affirm
ing the findings of the lower court, and
the dissenting opinion of Justices
Holmes and Hughes, of the United
States supreme court when that trib-
nnal denied Franks appeal for a writ
of habeas corpus.
Franks counsel also was expected to
file with the commission a letter writ
ten by Judge Roam just before his
death in which it was said he reiterated
his doubt as to Franks guilt and urged
executive clemency.
Delegations from several cities in
Georgia and Chicago and elsewhere al
so were prepared to offer in
Franks behalf.
Defendant Not Present.
Frank was not present when the
commissions hearing began. Mr.
Howard read the prisoners brief APP
plication for continuation of sentence
and then offered documentary evidence
including records of court proceedings,
the affidavit of Judge Roam and a
| II ntop1nnt IF Nfrc TnnE NJ TN,a,
Judge Roan's affidavit told of the
hostile atmosphere surrounding the
trial which induced him to urge that
Frank be absent when the verdict was
rendered.
Mr.. Howard said Mr.. Franks state
ment was the chief new evidence to be
presented.
Mrs. Franks statement says she was
born in Atlanta and a lived there all
her life, accustomed to the courteous
treatment which is characteristic of the
southerner.'
1t continued: with the ideals which
l had and which a been inculcated in
me from girlhood 1 expected in my
husband nothing less than that which
l had been accustomed and to which
every woman look forward, and which
l fully realized in my husband.
When not occupied with his business
the only line he spent away from me
was when he was occupied with his
l Slin WI n i " ll1fl away
from home about once or twice a
month.
"our married life had been exceed
ingly happy and never had been marred
by the slightest cloud. He was regard
ed and loved by my parents as a son
n was always courteous, gentle and
most respectful i'll his relations with
them, and our families have always
been on intimate terms.
Tells of Arrest.
when my husband was first arrest
ed on this charge and was detained at
police headquarters on Tuesday. April
20, 1918. I hurried to the police barracks.
accompanied by my father and broth
erlnlaw. | was not allowed to go up
to see my husband, and remained in
whence my friends prevailed on me to
return home. Being assured that nv
husband would be released at any mo
ment, | remained at home. but as soon
as 1t became apparent that he would
be detained indefinitely, I went TO him
Immediately and nave been going to
him every day since and spend most
of the day with him in Jail.
ON the 26th day of April, 1918, my
mother and 1 had tickets for the mat
fnee to grand opera n in order to
get there in time we sat at table at
l:l0 p. M, before my husband came
nome to dinner, and at about 1:15 o..
M, 1ather came in and sat down at
NASi U.s. p <AbouI LOU IlOCler and
left the house and my husband and
rather We're left at the table eating.
Returning home from the opera at $40
y found my husband already there
Ihere was nothing unusual in his man
ner or appearance to attract my atten-
ton.
That evening, after supper, a num-
Der of friends of my mother and
father came over to the house to play
cards. My husband and / did not play.
but he sat in the hall reading.
watched the game for a while in the
dining room n then would go into
the hall and talk to my husband and
would then go back again to watch
the game. My husband read in the
nall until some time after 10 O'clock
when he went upstairs to take a bath.
l olloWed him a few minutes later. and
we retired about 1890. We were
awakened about 6:45 by the
ringing. My husband got out of bed.
pun on his bathrobe and went down
to answer the telephone.
When he came back again 7 asked
MIN who it was, and he said some de-
tectlves had telephoned him to come
right down to the factory; that there
mad been a tragedy down there. and
Lhat n We're sending an automobile
Tor him. My husband began to dress
rlght away and while he was dressing
the front door bell rang n I slipped
on q bathrobe and went downstairs to
answer the door. When 1 opened the
door. Booth Rogers and John Black
were there. | asked them what was
the matter, and they said someone had
been killed in the factory and they
the told me what they knew about it.
ElnNT ~ An4 na-uR~--