The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-08-27
FRANK FACED DEATH
DID NOT CONFESS
"Inside" 5 Dry Of Mob's Work Is
Told by Member Of
Party.

midnight and dawn last Tuesday
morning became available to the AS
ISOLATION Press Sunday. The recita
did not come through second o.
third hands, but in a manner which
seemingly placed its authenticity be
yond all question. The narrator
however, will not be a witness be
fore the Cobb county grand jury
which On September 1, will be asked
to undertake thorough investiga
ton of the lynching Of the man al.
legged to have been the slayer OF
little Mary Phagan.
1t also became known here that
Gov. Nat u. Harris during the past
few days has received several an
onymous threatening letters purport-
ing to warn him not to 60 too far
in his investigation of the lynching.
The governor is not inclined to take
the letters at all seriously, but looks
upon them as the outgrowth of the
disturbed sentiment of the moment.
'IRstde Story"
The inside story of the events
which preceded the finding Of
Franks lifeless body swaying from
the limb of the biggest oak tree in
the vicinity By "Bill" Frey's gin,
cleared up many phases of the trag-
ic incident which heretofore have
been yelled i'm mystery. Points as
serted by the narrator were:
First-Frank did not confess. He
twice was asked if he had anything
to say, but on each occasion replied,
mo" Asked pointedly if he killed
the Phagan girl. he is said to have
made no reply whatever
Second-No attempt was made to
force a confession. Franks state
ment just prior to his death that he
loved his wife and mother better
than he did his life, came unexpect-
eddy and without questioning.
Third-Frank was not maltreated
N any way prior to the actual lynch
ing. Stories that he may have met
violent death before he was hanged
to the Frey oak are without founda-
tion.
Made No Protest.
Fourth-Frank walked distance
of 200 yards from the automobile to
the death tree without a faltering
step; without sign or semblance of
a protest. Fearing, perhaps, that
his body might never reach his rela-
tives, he asked that the wedding
ring he wore be delivered to a news
paper man with the solemn promise
that it would be turned over to his
wife. This wish was carried out.
Fifth-Frank was told from the
start that he was to be executed as
the courts had directed that he be
and every effort was made by the So
called vigilance committee" to see
that the illegal hanging" as they |
termed the lynching, was carried out
in an orderly manner. Members of |
the vigilance committee are said to
resent an iatimation that Frank
was "maltreated" while in their GUS
tody. They assert he was given ex-
actly the same consideration usually
given 10 a condemned man on the
day of his execution. The rough
of the body after it was
cut down was matter concerning
which members of the committee"
ieel they were not responsible.
Regarded as Sacred Duty"
Sixth-The members of the vigil
ance committee" felt they had a
acred duty to perform in carrying
nut the mandate OF the courts of
he State and the United States"
There was no mob spirit; no demon
;tration, and there is said to have
,een no idea 0i hanging Frank in
he public square at Marietta or in
he cemetery where Mary Phagan
les buried. There was, however,
/ determination that the execution
should take place in Cobb county.
nasmuch as all the members of the
are said to be residents
If Cobb county. the reason for this
S obvious.
Seven automobiles were required
o transport the vigilance Com
nittee" from Marietta to Melledge-
lille. Only four returned, includ-
ng the car in which Frank rode. All
IT, the machines were small cars of
popular make. These cars were
pecially selected because of the diff
culty in identifying them. No car
4 copspicious color or design was
wanted. There were probably TWEEN
y. eight men in the lynching party.
Children Cry