Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1915-08-27
VIVID STORY is TOLDdOF LYNCH
ING OF LEO FRANK.

thoritative source, by the Associated
Press. However, the informant will
not be witness in the investigation
which will be begun in a few days.
The cool deliberation of the mob is IL
thing TO be wondered at, and the per-
son who has given the story to the
public insists that every move was
made in as dignified manner as
possible, and the whole affair was con-
Quoted as nearly like legal execu-
ton as circumstances would permit.
Seven automobiles left Marietta AT
different times during the afternoon
before, carrying the vigilance COM
mittee" composed of twenty-eight
men. They reached the prison farm
ut Milledgeville about ten p. m, and
after calling out the prison warden
and superintendent from their homes,
they handcuffed them and proceeded
to the hospital ward, from which Leo
Frank had not as yet been removed,
suffering from the wound inflicted
upon him sometime ago by fellow
prisoner. There they overpowered the
guards, and proceeded to Franks
room as quietly as possible. He had
heard the approach, but was not aware
Of the danger that threatened him.
When they had reached him they
cody ordered him to go with them,
and not to mind about his clothes.
There was no look of terror on his
face, no cry for protection as his
captors applied handouts, and clad in
nothing save sleeping garment, he
OF oil l.. l..
led away into the night, down the
prison steps and on to his doom. 1t
is strenuously denied that Frank was
dragged down the steps, or that one
member of the party helped carry him
by the hair.
There was apparently no doubt in
Franks mind as to the meaning of
this abduction, as he was lifted into
one of the awaiting machines outside
the prison farm. He was fully aware
of the repeated threats that his "exe-
cution" would sooner or later take
place. He sat in the machine with a
member of the committee" on either
side, and throughout the ride of seven
hours from the prison to Marietta, he
maintained the same stoicsm that
characterized him throughout all his
weary and desperate fight for life in
the courts. The machines made an
average of twenty miles an hour, with
but one stop, when punctured tire
caused delay of few minutes.
Franks hatless, whitehead figure,
erect in the tonneau of the leading
car, was in striking contrast to the
sombre-hued men beside him. AL
though the roads were black and lone
ly, the glaring electric headlights of
the cars following kept the first car
brilliantly Illuminated. The highways
v'ere deserted, however, and the farm
houses passed were dark.
Only Two Syllablcs Leave His Lips.
During all this long journey only
two syllables left Franks lips. What
his thoughts were can never be known
The men who had determined that he
should die left him alone with his
meditations.
Soon after he had been placed in the
automobile Frank was told he was be-
G taken to his place of execution.
"The courts of Georgia have SEN
fenced you to be hanged, and they
Lever reversed that sentence. 1t has
devolved upon us to carry out their
ueoree."
Frank did not finch. 1t was after
the destination had been disclosed that
he was asked:
is there anything you would like
to say before your execution"
At first there was no response, then
slowly and perhaps painfully, the re-
Gently wounded man shook his head.
mo"
For long time after this the only
sound was that of the plunging auto
mobiles. Frank again was permitted
the seclusion of his thoughts.
Then he was asked if he had killed
the Phagan girl, and the captors say
he made no reply. This question was
not repeated until near the journeys
end, and again, it is said, there was no
reply. The final interrogation was:
as there nothing you wish to say?"
mo"
These four questions were the sole
.--.,on in the death car. AS day
li.;ht approached the speed of the cars
was increased. 1t was full hour after
dawn that the four cars drew up just
below the gin house on the William
Frye place, and stopped at the edge
IF an oak thicket.
Sees Death Near But Does Not Finch.
The door of the. leading car was
opened and Frank told to step out.
He arose with the knowledge that
death was near at hand, but did not
falter. The big tree which so soon was
% be his scaffold doomed large above
the other oaks in the thicket, but
Frank either did not see or attach any
Importance to it at first. He walked
with firm steps between two of his
captors, his eyes upon the ground.
81 love my wife and mother more
than do my life"
The words were uttered to himself
rather than for any dramatic effect