The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-20

A month ago Governor Harris said he received a secret message to the effect that an attack was to be made upon the prison farm on a given night. This was the time when he ordered a company of militia held at the Milledge- vile armory. The governor declares his action at that time, although it brought censure upon him in certain quarters postponed the lynching for q month" The censure is said by the governor to have come from persons who thought the governors action q reflection upon them, and it is said an indignation meeting was planned at Marietta, near which place on Tuesday morning last, the lifeless body Of Frank was found dangling from the lower limb of big oak tree.
 Governor Harris statement makes it clear that Frank had not been removed from the hospital when he was ab- ducted last Monday night. It had been supposed he was sleeping with the other prisoners in one of the big dor mitories when he was awakened by members of the armed band which afterward put him to death almost within view of the Phagan home. Still Wetih lIoiIl tnt WOullt III HIS liIOdt, ln- flcted by a fellow prisoner. Frank was dragged from the place by four men. In their haste the men let the scantily clad and frightened prisoner fall In the prison corridor after they had taken him from the room of which he was tho sole occupant. Later they dragged him bump<ng down the front steps of the institution and hurled him into one of the waiting automobiles.
 
 Reward Offered
 In addition to issuing his statement to the press on the subject of the lynch ing, Governor Harris tonight signed a proclamation offering a reward of $500 for the first three persons convicted of participating in the killing of Frank. There is only $2500 available in the re- ward fund of the state for the year 1915 It was thought at first the gov ernor would offer this entire amount in sums of $500 each for the first five men convicted He later changed ths sum to $500 for the first three mon convicted.
 Tn view of the great interest felt in all matters. concerning the lynching of | the prisoner Frank. 1 have thought it well to make a statement to the public, | explaining as far as l can, the facts | that led up to the transaction. and the situation that made it possible. under the laws or GeOrEla. all able | bodied male convicts are sentenced and worked on the chaingangs of the diff ferent counties, of the public works cf i the state.
 There is a state farm at Milledge vile. primarily intended for the broken down convctst those who are sicklN ' and unable to do service on the roads | for all female convicts. and for all boys not over Is years of age.
 The prison commission may direct | some convicts sent to the farm whose
 services can be utilized in the offic. or do other work on the farm, but gen orally these convicts are kept upon tho | roads of the several counties. as long i as they are able to perform the work
 required of them. Sometimes the tria I judge sentences prisoner to the statt l farm in order to avoid hardships of the
 county chaingang. This can be dor' | by the presiding Judge.
 l There are some 500 prisoners on tn,
 state farm counting the women. boy and other prisoners. FLA
 When Mir. Franks sentence was ] commuted by Governor Slaton to lie imprisonment, he was sent to the state
 farnl for the purpose of being delivered