Sunday, 11th July 1915: Not A Local Issue, The Atlanta Constitution

(From Collier's.)

That the Country at large has taken an earnest interest in the Frank Case speaks well for the Spirit of American Fair Play. For the people of Georgia to feel that outsiders are interfering in Georgia's Home Affairs is a mistake. We are all Citizens of one Country, are all of the same Common Humanity, and all share Humanity's common Liability to Error. The Judge who tried the Frank Case, Judge Roan (who has since died), said that he was not convinced of Frank's guilt. That Statement is a part of the Record of the Case. It is now believed, on the Faith of a Statement by an intimate friend of Judge Roan's, that the trial Judge went farther and expressed his belief in Frank's innocence. Whatever the precise degree of the dead trial Judge's Statement of his doubt, it is at the least a strong Argument in favor of the Commutation of the Death Sentence. The various Appeals in Frank's Case have not gone to the question of his guilt or innocence. He has had but one trial. That this trial was not a fair one (in view of the conditions existing at the time) seems to be about as well established as it is possible to establish any disputed Fact. Most of those who have made a thorough investigation of the Case believe in Frank's innocence. Of that, the Proof may come later. It is sufficient now that in the minds of practically everyone, and particularly in the mind of the trial Judge, there is and was a doubt.