The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-19
FRANK, THROAT CUT.

CONTINUED from Page One.l
made with butcher knife in the
hands of William Green, also serving
life term for murder. The blow
was struck as Frank slept in his bunk
in a dormitory late Saturday night.
Inquiry Will Be Started.
| An investigation of the attack will
| be conducted by the Georgia prison
commission, the same body that re-
fused to recommend that Franks
death sentence for the murder of Mary
Phagan be committed.
Reports today from Atlanta init
| mated that Governor Harris would
start such an investigation to ascer-
tain if Green acted of his own Volt
ton. Green said when taken from
solitary confinement long enough to
be questioned, that he planned the at
| tack alone and that no one knew what
he intended to do. He was not COM
municative and gave as his only ex-
cuse that ''he thought it should be
done" He said, however, he regretted
his act.
Frank was quartered at night in the
dOrmitOry with about one hundred
other prisoners and occupied a bunk
about forty feet from one of,the two
doors to the large room. Creams bunk
was fourth from his. No prisoner is
allowed to leave his place without per-
mission from one of the two guards
stationed at the dormitory at night.
Shortly after IL o'clock Saturday
night Green called out for permission
to get up, and it was granted. He
started down the line of hunks toward
the one occupied by Frank. As he
reached it he quickly grabbed Frank
by the hair and delivered one blow
with the knife he had concealed. A
guard rushed to the bunk and pre-
vented Green from striking again.
Twenty-Five Stitches Taken.
Among prisoners who rushed to
Franks aid were two physicians, one
of whom also was serving a life term
for murder. They gave first aid and
treated the wound until DR.. Guy
Compton. the prison physician, was
summoned from his home, half a mile
away. The three men took IS stitches
in Franks neck. DR.. H. ]. Rosen-
berg. the Frank family physician, ar
rived from Atlanta yesterday with
nurses. He said that while the pa
tents condition was precarious, he
had a chance for life.
Mrs. Frank was in Milledgeville at
the home of ]. NJ Burns She was
not told of the attack until after the
physicians had finished their work
She became hysterical. but later was
Gained and was taken to the prison
hospital
The cut extends from the front of
the neck around the left side to al
most the middle of the back of the
neck. Neither the wind pipe nor the
spinal cord is hurt, but the jugIar
greatest fear is that some of the
stitches might slip, causing more loss
of blood.
Frank has benefited great deal
by the outdoor life since being
brought to the farm June 81. Though
small man, he always has had a
rugged constitution, and that, coupled
with his exercise OF the last three
weeks, is in his favor, the doctors say.
Attack by Outside Foes
Frank knew of the demonstration
against the action, of Governor Slaton,
whose term recently expired, in COM
muting his sentence and also of
threats to take him from the prison
farm by force
Those who reached his side after he
was wounded believed he had all this
in mind when he said:
Il guess they have got me now
He did not lose consciousness and
after being taken to the hospital ask
ed that his assailanu be forgiven.
Green was sentenced from Column
bus, Ga, for killing a man named
Kitchen. Shortly after the crime a
jury inquired into his sanity, but de-
clared him sane. Saturday he was
helping to kill hogs with other prison
ers. He concealed in his clothing the
knife he used in the butchering and
later it is believed secreted it in his
bunk.
Not From Outside Says Staten.
Seattle, July 19.-Surprise and re-
gret at the attempt on the life of Leo
NJ. Frank, by a fellow convict at the
prison farm at Milledgeville, Ga.
| were expressed by former Governor
John NJ Slaton of Georgia who was
here today on his way to San Fran
| cisco.
Il do not believe that the attack on
Frank could be traced to any outside
/ influence working for Franks de-
struction," he said. Il believe that
| the criminal mind, aroused perhaps
| by newspaper reports. was respon-
Sible. Frank was put in the safest
l place for him in the state
He said he had no reason to regret