Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-07-10
Death Decree is COMMITTED by
Gov. Slaton of Georgia
at Last Moment.
MOB STOPPED BY MILIIIAMEN
Disorderiy Crowds Make Trouble in
Atlanta Streets and Guards Use
Their Bayonets on Leaders

Atlanta, Ca, June 22--1he Qeatn
sentence imposed ON Leo NJ Frank,
convicted of the murder of Mary Pha-
gan, has been committed by Governor
Slaton to life imprisonment, and
Frank has been taken to the state
prison farm. He was to have been
hanged this afternoon
Gov. Stations action aroused
storm of protest and disorder among
a large and unruly group in this city
and in smaller towns of the state. So
troublesome was the situation here
that the governor called out the state
militia and proclaimed martial law
over a wide area surrounding his coun-
try home.
His life was threatened. Barbed
wire entanglements were placed be-
fore the entrances to the Slaton es-
tate, and county police, besides mill
tiamen, guarded the place with riot
guns. A personal bodyguard of a
dozen or more heavily armed men pro-
tected the Slaton residence
Both Gov. Slaton and Frank were
hanged in effigy in several smaller
cities States, Attorney Dorsey, who
has fought the long fight for Franks
conviction, issued a statement de-
nouncing Gov. Stations action. Care
will be taken for several days at least
to prevent any sort of outbreak
against the chief executive. The au-
thorities have prepared to deal thor
oughly and promptly with any at
tempts at mob work.
Hard Fought Case.
In committing Franks death SEN
do at
ment summing up the evidence and
insinuating that the negro, hose testi-
mony went far to convict the New
York Jew, himself committed the
crime. This negro is now serving a
penitentiary sentence for perjury in
connection with the case. 1T would
be murder to let Frank be hanged as
a result of such fimsy and incomplete
evidence" the governor said.
The Frank case was one of the most
stubbornly fought in the criminal
court annals of the country. To begin
with, there was much ignorant preju-
dice against this mana northerner,
a Jew and an employer-among
large element in Atlanta. There had
been several vile crimes committed
against women in Atlanta within a
police had failed to trace any of them
and consequently were under severe
criticism.
Police Use Negro.
When the assault and murder of the
Phagan girl occurred, the police de-
partment made the most of opportun-
ity. A drug-fend negro, employed in
the pencil factory of which Frank was
superintendent. was used by the po-
lice and the prosecuting machinery
against Frank. 1t is noteworthy, how
ever, that detectives who went over
Franks history with a hne-tooth
comb failed to find any smut. He
was a man of unusually high and clean
personal character.
Illiterate notes found beside the
murdered girls body were proved to
have been written by Frank, on the
negros testimony. The negro proved
he could neither read nor write That
was early in the trial month or
more later it was shown conclusively
that the negro could write. Confront
ed with this evidence, he admitted the
fact and said that he had written the
murder notes, but at the dictation of
Frank This is the sort OF evidence
that brought the death sentence upon
the accused man.
And Justice 1t Last.
Appeals to the state supreme court
and to the United States supreme
court on constitutional grounds failed
TO bring reversal of the trial courts
decision. The fact that the trial judge
and jury were constantly menaced by
a violent street mob, and that the
used questionable meth
DDS of securing evidence and convic-
ton finally caused the better element
of people in Georgia and the most rep
resentative newspapers there to get
a truer perspective on the case They
began to demand a square deal for
Frank-and finally Frank got it.
The Allies Buy locomotives