Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-06-21
Franks Sentence
COmmuted To Life
In Prison Today

Continued from Page one)
of Georgia read my statement and con.
slider calmly the reasons 1 have given
for committing this mans sentence to
life imprisonment" ="
I" Feeling as ! do about the case, !
Hens, ll@1l12c.
man to hang the governor continued
."lt means that | must live in obscurity
for the rest of my days, but l would
rather be blowing the fields than feel
for the rest OF my life that l had a
man S blood upon my hands.
Fears of the officials that the com.
mutation of Frank s sentence would be
followed by demonstrations and pos.
sible violence were not borne out today.
On the contrary there appeared to be
a feeling of relief that the case had
been disposed of and the prisoner was
out of the city. Franks iailers were
taken completely by surprise. They mad
made all arrangements for the execu.
tion which was scheduled for tomor.
row.
The sun was just coming up as Frank
and Sheriff Mangum entered the Nil.
ledgeville farm gates at 4:3O this morn.
ing. The trip from Macon was made
in a taxicab which Frank selected and
the 80 miles to the farm was covered
in an hour and twenty-five minutes.
Mangum told reporters Franks sen.
tence had been cOmmuted "for the
time being" The prisoner took the
news of the Communication calmly. His
iailers said he hardly gave any evi.
dence Of being relieved Of the terrific
strain under which he must have been
laboring.
Already there is much speculation as
to the step that will be taken in
Frank s behalf. 1t is believed his
friends will continue their efforts un,
til they succeed in having the case re.
opened in some way possibly through
new evidence. Friends Of the convicted
man are determined to save him from
serving the full term which he now
faces
AS the day progressed signs of pos.
sble trouble began to develop. 4 crowd
gathered about the Jail early in the
day and though expression of dissatis.
faction with the governor S action was
common, there were no indications of
violence. Later the entire downtown
district became congested The crowds
gathered in great numbers, especially
about the public buildings. Mountain.
GERS from the home Of Mary Phagan
disregarded orders to "keep moving"
and five of them were arrested
1t was evident that the failure Of a
hostile demonstration to develop was
due to the slowness with which the
news Of the Communication spread. By II
o clock, however, Marietta and For.
syth streets were packed with human.
ity The city hall and postoffice were
filled with policemen ready to respond
to any call. Mounted officers did theil
utmost to keep the crowds moving.
"What can they do with Frank fom
hours awoy'" a police captain was
asked
"It isn't Frank they are talking
about, it is Slaton," he answered sig
nificantly.
The governor remained at his coun
try home three miles from Atlanta. II,
announced he would send his statemen
in by messenger.
The shadow of death hung over Let
NJ. Frank two years for the murdere
Of Mary Phagan. He sought to escap,
1t by every means; nothing in law o
criminal procedure being overlooked
that would prevent him from boing t,
his death Court appeals were takei
so that three times he has stood befor,
judges and heard them pronounce thu
death sentence. He has been in cour
rooms of every description and ha
spent his days in prison and city Jail
when he was taken about to appear be
fore the different judges to make hi
plea for life.
Besides the efforts made by his rela
tives and friends there has been ma
tion.wide spectacular appeal in his be
half. Bulky petitions have been re
turned from every city of importance
in the country bearing names of citi
zens asking that he be extended elem
ency. And these petitions were no
HNeeANNAN NAlNhluNNhs ANNMNldltIH EtN
publicity to them. Speakers took then
and passed them around after stree
corner meetings, Meetings were he'll
in auditoriums at which able orator
represented his case and then aeke,
, that the petition be signed.
Frank is Jew. Foremost in hi
behalf have been the Hebrew people o
the United States. They have worke,
for his relief in many ways; providini
funds for his great legal fight, throw
ing the sentiment of their strong ore
anisations in his favor and making
unanimous appeal that he be spared.
! Not the least spectacular incident o
the long fight has been the continue
insistance Of his innocence made b
Frank himself
! az am being made blood sacrifice