The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-06-21
Governor Slayton C0mmutes
Sentence and Convicted
Man Spirited Away to
Penitentiary Farm.
EXECUTIVE WORRIED
Appeals to People of Georgia
to Hold Judgment in Abey-
ance Until Time Tells
Truth.

ATLANTA, Ga. June 21-'Tt was q
plain case Of duty as I saw it." said
Governor John NJ. Slaton this morn
ing discussing his action In commut,
Ing Leo NJ. Franks sentence from
death to life Imprisonment. IT had
failed to commute Franks sentence
would have been guilty of murder.
as see it.
Governor Slaton was sitting propped
up IN bed, his eyes dull and swollen
from loss of sleep.
"Of course. I care for the public's
appreciation" he continued. but
should have failed to commute Frank
would have been guilty, as I see IL.
OF murder. could not have that mans
blood on my hands under the circum-
stances. l can plow and hoe and live
IN ooscurity. If necessary. but I could
not AFFORD not to commute him. It
was a plain case Of duty. as l saw it,
and believe the people will realize
that this was my only course"
Appears Relieved.
Governor Slaton appeared as IL a
great load had been lifted from his
mind and conscience. The entire
Frank case. he declared, hung on
whether or not Mary Phagen was
killed IN the middle room, and whether
Frank had helped carry the body to
the basement
am confident that time will justi.
fy the wisdom of my course" he said.
solicitor Dorsey has studied this
case constantly, but l believe he does
not know the evidence any better
than do. l almost know it by heart.
and there is plenty of doubt of Frapk's
guilt. The scoundrel Conley admits
enough in his tale to cause missivins
over the whole narrative
All wish now," said the governor,
lis that the people OF Georgia with.
hold judgment until they have given
calm and careful consideration OF my
statement on this state"
Frank In Ignorance.
First Official confirmation of the
communication Of the sentence was Civ
en- this morning when the governor
gave out length statement in which
ne outlined the reasons which led him
to spare the life of the man convicted
of the staying of Mary Phagen, who
was to have been hanged tomorrow.
Frank himself did not know he was
to live until just few minutes before
AS was eohCA AlOul luc 1o~GI.
Shortly after 10 o'clock last night
told him to prepare to leave the Tow.
er in which he has been confined for
more than two years. The words Of
the sheriff were received in the same
manner that Frank has received the
news of each movement In his fight
against the gallows.
The utmost secrecy was preserved
at the Jail throughout the day Even
before Frank was notified of the gov
ernor's action, Sheriff Mangum had
issued an order closing the Jail to
every one. Even telephone communi-
cation was stopped. While reporters.
had been watching the Tower all
day at the front of the prison. the lit.
tie party went out of the back door
and entered waiting auto. They
were whirled to the terminal station.
Threaten Governor.
A crowd gathered this morning be-
tween and o'clock in Mariette
street, some of who mindulged in some
threats against the governor. Five ar.
rests were made and the crowd dis
persed. Many Of them were from Cobb
county, just north of the city. where
the murdered girl lived before she
went to work in the pencil factory.
At $3.50 o'clock the chief of police Or
dered all "near-beer" saloons and
Nocker clubs closed. and called out
the reserve police. No crowds were
allowed to gather on the streets.
FRANK GRATEFUL.
MILLEEDGE, Ga, June 21-Upon
being asked whether he had anything
to say, Frank said in clear and COM
posed language:
Il am grateful beyond words to the
governor for the way he has disposed
of the case. Somehow just felt con-
fdent that would not hang. OF course
am unsettled, as your see. from the
tremendous experience through which
have gone. am not composed enough
at this time to give you an intelligent
and connected conversation. Just say
that l feel more than l can express
in words. and am happy that my life
is saved. Time will prove, as l have
often told you, the fact of my absolute
innocence of the crime with which I
am charged"
With a firm look directly In the
faces of his interviewers, he paused
briefly and said, Il am innocent"
I1~Y