Tuesday, 23rd September 1913: Sheriff C. W. Mangum Makes Announcement, The Atlanta Journal

Reading Time: 13 minutes [2073 words]

To the Citizens of Fulton County:

Now that the wave of excitement and heat of passion

incident to the Leo Frank trial has in a measure subsided I deem it

advisable to address a few words to the voters and the people of

the county relative to the many baseless, unfounded, and unfair

rumors which have been circulated about my treatment of the

county's prisoner, Leo M. Frank.

These rumors, many of which are too unreasonable to be

dignified with a reply or denial, have largely originated with my

personal and political enemies, solely for political purposes, but

they have been given such wide and such ingenious circulation

that I consider this statement necessary, not as a justification of

anything which I have done, but in order that those who have

listened to these rumors may understand the true facts in the

case; in order that the good citizens of the county will not be

misled by false statements originating with a few men who, for

gain or spite, are willing to attack a man for the simple

performance of his duty.

It has been said that I announced that I believe Frank

innocent of the charge against him. This I emphatically deny. I

have never made a statement of my personal belief in the case,

but have only quoted the prisoner, when I was requested to do so,

as saying himself that he was innocent.

C. W. MANGUM,

Sheriff Fulton

County:

During the trial I was criticized because I failed to handcuff

Frank when he was carried from the jail to the court house during

his trial. My enemies say that in doing this I violated the law. In

this they willfully misrepresent or show themselves densely

ignorant. The law requires the sheriff simply to safeguard his

prisoners, and this I have done.

Relative to my failure to handcuff Frank I say that it has

never been the custom of myself or my deputies in our five years'

service to the county, to handcuff a prisoner unless it was

absolutely necessary, and I take occasion to say that of more than

twenty who have been charged with murder during my

administration, only three"George Burge, George Quarles, and

Robert Clay"have worn steel cuffs, and these men were known

as desperate characters. Bain, Darden, Garner, Reeves, Copeland,

Vane, Matthews, McDonald, Parham, Camp, Folds and many

others charged with murder, have been allowed to walk to their

trials with un-manacled hands. Even negroes, when there is only

one or two to be moved at a time, are not handcuffed unless

there is some reason to believe that they will attempt to escape

or to do violence to the guard.

In other words, whenever it is possible, without running any

risk of allowing a prisoner to escape, we spare him the shame of

appearing on the streets with manacled hands, be he white or

black, Jew or Gentile. Of course, when a large number, often from

twenty to forty, prisoners are being brought to court by two or

three deputies, we find it necessary to manacle them in order to

prevent their escape, but never when there is only one prisoner

unless he is not only desperate but of such powerful build that in

single combat, he might overcome even an armed deputy. Frank

is a man of slight stature, a physical weakling.

I have also been criticized because I carried Leo Frank to and

from jail in an automobile, when other prisoners have walked

from the court of justice to the place of their incarceration. The

reason for the use of the automobile is simple and obvious. There

were many threats against the life of the prisoner and the

sheriff's office had received many anonymous communications

from people, who threaten to lynch Frank. Always there were

crowds gathered about the court house to see the prisoner, and

had I walked him to the jail he could have been surrounded by

people, some of whom might have attempted to do him harm; or

in the surrounding crowds there might have been friends, who

would have sought to liberate him.

Necessarily, I had to use an automobile to protect the

prisoner and to guard him effectively, otherwise everyone of my

deputies would have had to assist in guarding him, and they were

need elsewhere. This machine belongs personally to one of my

deputies and did not cost the county one cent.

My enemies have foolishly declared that I attend the Frank

trial very day because of a personal interest in the fortunes of the

prisoner, and that I had never before attended constantly on a

criminal trial.

Not only had threats of violence against the prisoner then

freely made, but there were many wild rumors that the Hillsboro

affair would be repeated in the Frank case, and that the judge and

other court officials were in constant danger.

While I did not credit these rumors I realized that never

before had there been such intense feeling, both for and against a

prisoner on trial in this county.

For that reason and that reason alone I attended constantly

on the trial. Had violence been attempted I would never have

forgiven myself, and the public would never have forgiven me, for

allowing my deputies to stand without a leader against a mob,

while I, the sheriff of this county, sat safe in my private office,

unable to reach the scene of action, and the scene of my duty

until it was too late to be of any actual assistance to my men. I

was there because it was my duty to be there and for no other

reason.

I have been criticized by many because they could not get

seats in the court room and the charge that I showed partiality in

this matter has been made. I deny the charge flatly and firmly. I

was sorry that every man in the county, who had any desire to

hear the trial could not do so, but space was very limited. That

the court room was not large is not my fault as I have no control

over it. I was instructed by the judge, and it is my sworn duty to

obey his orders to close the doors, when the seats in the room

had been filled, and this I did.

Doubtless some parties were allowed to pass in and out of

the room after the doors had been closed to the general public,

but I deny the charge that they were all friends of Frank. They

were attorneys, court officers, city detectives, policemen in plain

clothes and in practically all instances their presence in the court

room was necessary, and they had a right to demand and receive

admittance.

That the court was filled with men of the same race as the

defendant, I also deny. At practically every session there were ten

Gentiles to every Jew in the room.

It has been said that Frank has been allowed privileges at

the jail accorded no other prisoner. THIS IS A LIE AS PITIFUL AS IT

IS BASE. HE HAS BEEN ALLOWED THE SAME PRIVILEGES, NO

MORE OR LESS, ACCORDED EVERY OTHER PRISONER,

REGARDLESS OF HIS COLOR, RACE OR CREED.

Like the officials of the federal penitentiary of Atlanta, and

like all sincere students of criminology, I believe that as few

hardships as possible should be placed upon the man whom the

law has restrained of his liberty, and that prisoners should not be

made to suffer unnecessary indignities.

But I also believe that every prisoner should be accorded the

same treatment and discipline, and I can truthfully say that all

prisoners in the Fulton county jail, since it has been in my charge,

have been made to conform to the same rules and regulations.

Frank has had his meals sent to him from his home. I try to

make the fare of the prisoners wholesome and substantial, but it

is a rule that any prisoner whose friends or relatives desire to

furnish regular meals or special delicacies can receive them, and

this rule applies to negroes as well as white men.

If the friends of a prisoner, regardless of whom he is, care to

furnish him with books and magazines, he may have them . If a

prisoner is to be held for some length of time, and has the money

to purchase some bit of furniture, which cannot be used as a

weapon, to make his cell more comfortable, he can have it. This is

a general rule, applicable to every prisoner alike. In the Fulton

county jail there are not special rules made for one man or set of

men. I try to do everything in my power, consistent with the same

keeping of the men, to make their stay at the Tower at least

comfortable.

It has been charged that I have shown Frank partiality by

allowing his friends and relatives to visit him. In his connection I

wish to say that in this, like everything else, he has been made to

conform to the rules of the jail, and his friends and relatives have

been allowed to visit here just as the friends and relatives of

every other prisoner have been allowed to visit the Tower. If a

prisoner does not desire to receive visitors I comply with his

wishes in the matter.

I have been condemned by some because I refused to allow

city detectives to question Frank over his protest. I want to say

here and now with all emphasis at my command that I have

NEVER KNOWINGLY ALLOWED A PRISONER IN THE TWOER TO BE

PUT THROUGH THE THIRD DEGREE BY ANYBODY, AND I NEVER

WILL SO LONG AS I HOLD OFFICE. I thus throw down the gauntlet;

let him take it up who will"be he chief, captain or private. That

my position in this matter is right is shown by the fact that only

recently the court of appeals of this state has handed down a

decision condemning the Third Degree and declaring evidence

secured by means of it is valueless in a court room.

In connection with my administration of the jail, those who

are familiar with conditions have declared the work of myself and

deputies as remarkably efficient. This is largely due to the fact

that all of the deputies on duty there work on ly eight horus per

day instead of twelve hoursa s under former administrations.

While this requires more men, and curtails the amount of money

which I personally derive from the office, the result has made me

glad that I have adopted this policy, and I have the knowledge

that more working men, laboring conscientiously eight hours a

day, are sharing in the revenue of this office now than ever

before.

The rumors about the sheriff which were current during the

Frank trial are too numerous to mention in full. I did not try to

deny them then, when passion and prejudice was at its height,

but now in order that no part of the public may eb misled by false

rumors, I make this statement and clearly and emphatically state

he has not received more privileges than other prisoners, but in

some cases not as many.

My record is clean and clear. I have tried to do my full duty

at all times, and nothing but my duty.

If the good people of Fulton county think that I am wrong in

treating all prisoners decently and humanely or in refusing to

allow them to be subjected to the third degree or other

indignities, I am willing to stand by their verdict, and accept

without rancor defeat at the coming primaries. However, I may

add that I am fully confident of re-election to the high office I now

hold, the duties of which I have done my utmost to discharge

without fear, favor or affection.

In the past I have been supported by an earnest and

conscientious corps of deputies, and if there are any changes

made in their personnel the public may rest assured that it will be

done for the public good and not for political effect.

As above indicated, I am a candidate for re-election as

sheriff of Fulton county, looking backward to a clean and

honorable record, going forward with full confidence that the good

people of Fulton county are not yet ready to rebuke and cashier a

man for doing his sworn and bonded duty. With thankfulness in

my heart for past support, and with a consciousness of duty done,

I earnestly solicit your support and influence in the next primary.

Very Respectfully Yours,

C. W. MANGUM.

Sept. 20, 1913. (Advt.)

PAGE 9, COLUMN 2

Superior Court

Judge

Must Keep One

Eye on

Tricky Ceiling

Now

Within the past two days the dignity of the superior court

has twice been ruffled by the falling of plastering in the first

division, over which Judge John T. Pendleton is presiding.

The old city hall building, where the civil courts are now

sitting, is in none too good repair generally, but the officials of the

court room on the second floor declare that the limit has been

reached when they have to sit with a fearful eye on the ceiling all

of the time ready to dodge falling plastering.

The ceiling of the court room is very high and should the

plastering strike a person it would inflict probably a serious injury.

Judge Pendleton has considered adjourning court for the

week but probably will not if plasterers who will be put on the job

during the day Tuesday, can make the room safe.