The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-06-03

Joined in an appeal to John NJ. Stat
on, governor of Georgia, to commute
the death sentence imposed on Leo
NJ. Frank.
The editors base their plea on the
fact that, while appeals in Franks
behalf to the Supreme court of Geor.
gla and the Supreme court of the
United States have failed, the ques.
ton of the defendants guilt or inno-
cence has been passed upon only by
the trial court.
Here 10 the Appeal
The editorial appeal follows:
"The Hon. John M. Slaton, COVER
nor of Georgia, and the Board OF Pri.
son Commissioners:
Gentlemen: We, the undersigned,
respectfully appeal to you to com.
mute the sentence of Leo M. Frank
Of Atlanta, Ca, who is condemned to
die on June 20, 1915.
Millions of people In America are
firmly convinced Of Leo M. Franks
innocence, and many more millions
are convinced that his guilt has not
been established beyond doubt.
Disinterested people who have IA
miliarized themselves with the evil
dence in the Frank case and the ex-
ceptional circumstances attending the
case and the nature Of the testimony
on which he was convicted, have ex-
pressed their belief that he is inno-
cent. rutgri,y-sh.-'
Neither the Supreme court of
Georgia nor any member OF the SUI
preme court Of the United States
has ever expressed any belief in
Franks guilt. The guilt or inno-
cence of Leo M. Frank has never
been made q question before any
court except the original court which
tried him. In that court the presid-
ing Judge, the Hon. l.. s. Roam. de-
clared that he had thought about the
Frank case more than any other that
he had ever tried; that he was not
certain OF Leo NJ. Franks guilt. and
that with all the thought he had pu,
on the case he was not fully convinc-
ed that Leo NJ. Frank was innocent
or guilty.
Guilt Not Considered
THE Supreme court of Georgia and
the Supreme court OF the United
States did not pass upon any ques-
ton involving the guilt of Leo NJ.
Frank. They merely passed upon
technical questions concerning judi
clal procedure.
I'm view Of all these circumstances
and In view Of the fact that the Su.
preme court Of the United States was
not unanimous In Its desisIon, we
feel that Leo NJ. Frank is entitled to
the benefit OF the doubt existing in
the minds Of millions of Americans,
and we earnestly appeal to you to
commute his sentence In order that
a man believed by millions OF people
innocent may not be put to death
and deprived of the opportunity Of
proving his innocence.
Herman Bernstein, editor the Day,
New York.
Melville r. Stone, general manager
the Associated Press.
w. w. Harris, editor the Sun, New
York.
Ralph Pulitzer, president the World
New York.
Keats Speed, editor the Press, New
York.
George NJ. Smith, editor Evening
Sun, New York.
Arthur Brisbane, editor Evening
Journal, New York.
II. ]. Wright, editor the Globe,
New York.
o. G. Willard, editor Evening Post
New York.
DR., Lyman Abbott, editor the Out
look.
r. d. Townsend, managing editor
the Outlook.
II. d. Wheeler, editor Harper's
Weekly.
Hamilton Holt, editor the Indepen
dent.
Douglas z. Doty, editor Century
magazine.
John S. Phillips, editor American
Magazine.
. Mark Sullivan, editor Golfers
Weekly.
Erman ], Rldgway, editor Every
body's Magazine.
I Herbert Croly, editor New Repub
. lie.
e. f. Whiting editor Boston Eve
ming Record.
Edwin A. Grozier, editor Albany
Times Union,
II, d. Burrill, publisher Syracuse
Journal.
st. Clair McKelyey, editor Brook.