The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-07-22
PRISONER SLABS FRANK
THROAT CUT WHILE CONVICTED
MAN SLEPT.
While Condition is PreCarious, Ply.
sicians Have Hope for His
Recovery.


provement in the condition of Leo NJ.
Frank was announced tonight by
physicians attending him, and they
continued hopeful for his recovery
from the knife wound inflicted by j..
William Green, a fellow convict at
the Georgia prison farm here.
The following official bulletin, sign
ed by Drs. G. D. Compton, Thomas
NJ. Hall and Harry Moses, was made
public:
AT ) p. m. Leo M. Franks pulse
was SO, temperature 1904, respira-
ton IS. Wound is draining freely
and temperature falling. We con-
slider his condition satisfactory.
Members of the State prison COM
mission will come here Saturday to
investigate the attack on Frank.
Milledgeville, Ca, July 1S.-Leo
NJ. Frank lay in the Georgia State
prison hospital tonight with what at
tendants said was fighting chance
for recovery. Physicians had sue
ceeded in stopping the flow Of blood
from a jagged wound in his throat
made with an improvised knife in the
hands of William Green, fellow con-
vict also serving life term for mur-
der. The blow was struck as Frank
slept in his bunk in a dormitory late
last night.
Green said today, when taken from
solitary confinement long enough to
be questioned, that he planned the
attack alone and that no one knew
what he intended to do. He was not
communicative today and gave as his
only excuse that "he thought it
should be done" He said, however,
that he regretted his act.
Attack Unexpected.
Frank was quartered at night in
dormitory with about one hundred
other prisoners and occupied a bunk
about forty feet from one of the two
doors to the large room. Green s
bunk was fourth from his. No pris-
oner is allowed to leave his place
without permission from one Of the
two guards stationed at the dormi-
tory at night. Shortly after II
o'clock last 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.
The attack was witnessed by the
guard, who rushed to the bunk and
prevented Green from striking again.
Green was overpowered and among
prisoners who rushed to Franks aid
were two physicians, one Of whom al
so was serving a life term for muir
der.
25 Stitches Taken.
The two convict-physicians gave
first aid and treated the wound until
DR.. Guy Compton, the prison physi-
clan, was summoned from his home
half a mile away. The three men
took twenty-five stitches in Franks
neck. DR.. H: J. Rosenberg, the
Frank family physician, arrived from
Atlanta today with nurses. He said
that while his condition is precarious
he has a chance for life. Mrs.
Franks brother, NJ. Marcus, of At
lanta, also accompanied DR.. Rosen-
berg.
Mrs. Frank was in Milledgeville at
the home Of j. NJ. Burns. She was
not told of the attack until after the
physicians had finished their work.
She became hysterical, but later was
calmed and was taken to the prison
hospital, where she has remained
since.
Frank has asked the prison doc
tors again if they thought he would
live.
You have a good chance to recov-
er," he was told today.
Frank smiled. Don't punish the
man who attacked me-" he said, 4
have nothing to fear. There is moth
ing between me and God. / will be
able to prove to the world that | am
innocent of the crime of which they
accuse me if they give me a chance -
Doctor" he. said, late this after
noon, Il am going to live. | must
live. ] must vindicate myself.
No Plot, Green Declares.
Green asserted that there was no
plot. He said that he had inspira-
ton that he should kill Frank. and
plotted alone to kill him. He told
of aiding in the butchering Of hogs
on SATURDAY. morning, how he had