Tuesday, 20th July 1915: Another Doctor Added To Staff Treating Frank, The Atlanta Constitution

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### Extraordinary Precautions Are Now Being Taken to Prevent the Development of Blood Poison

Milledgeville, Ga., July 20. (Special.) At an early hour this morning, Leo M. Frank's temperature had dropped to 100 degrees and it was reported that he was considerably better. The fear of blood poisoning developing from the ragged wound in Frank's throat has prompted Atlanta friends and relatives, as well as medical advisers of the wounded prisoner, to add another physician to the group already at his bedside.

He is Dr. Thomas Hall, one of the best-known practitioners of Milledgeville. He spent a large part of this afternoon at Frank's side and consulted frequently with Dr. G. D. Compton, the state prison surgeon, who has the patient's case in charge. He repeated what the other physicians have stated, that Frank would undoubtedly have died from the loss of blood within a few minutes after his jugular vein had been pierced, had it not been for the immediate attention to the wound rendered by Dr. Mc Naughton, a fellow prisoner.

Extraordinary precautions are being taken to prevent blood poison. It is feared that the knife with which Creen committed his murderous attack was infected.

### Fear Blood Poison

The condition of Frank remained critical tonight. Dr. G. D. Compton, the prison physician, announced, however, that he was hopeful of Frank's recovery. Possible blood poisoning from infection is one of the chief dangers, he said.

Frank's temperature late today was announced as 101.8, his circulation as 100 and his respiration as 20. Early today, his temperature was 102.4, and the attending physicians were gratified at the decline.

Creen, questioned further by prison officials today, said he believed that he had been called "from on high" to kill Frank, whose death sentence for Mary Phagan's death recently was commuted by Governor Slaton, now retired. He indicated no remorse, as he had done immediately after the attack on Saturday night.

### Have Done My Duty

"I only wish that I had had more strength," Creen said. "I think that I have done my duty in this matter, as well as my strength allowed. I believe that God has helped me. I don't think that I ever did wrong in my life."

Creen, although he weighs 165 pounds, is partly paralyzed in his left arm. Physicians attending Frank believe that this fact probably saved his life, as Creen was unable to seize him while he used the knife.

Warden Smith said today that Creen had spent much time recently reading the Bible. Other prison attaches said that Creen recently had shown a tendency to discuss religion.

Should Frank die, Creen probably would be tried for murder. No decision has been reached as to what action will be taken if Frank recovers.

Mrs. Frank remains constantly at his side. All others except the physicians have been excluded from the prison grounds. She expressed an intention to remain in Milledgeville until her husband was out of danger.

### Dr. Rosenberg Pleased

Dr. H. J. Rosenberg, the Atlanta physician and family medical adviser of Frank, returned to Atlanta this morning, after having given out a statement of his observations of Frank's condition. Dr. Rosenberg was pleased with the prospects.

"His condition is serious, 'tis true, but not necessarily fatal. His recovery, I would think, depends largely upon his powers of recuperation, for which I have but slight fears. The thing most to be feared is infection, which would result in blood poisoning."

"The external jugular vein was completely severed, which fact made speed so essential in treating the case. A wound of such a character would permit a man to bleed to death in a very short time. The larger internal jugular, however, was not injured. He would have died instantly had it been touched. The wound is about seven and a half inches in length and very ragged. Even though he recovers, Frank will have a rigid neck the remainder of his days."

William Creen, Frank's assailant, is reported to have contradicted the statement he made Sunday morning shortly following the deed, to the effect that he regretted his act. Monday afternoon, it was reported at the prison that he was not sorry for the crime, but that he had stated "he only regretted that he did not have more strength."

### Have Done My Duty

"I think I have done my duty," he is quoted. "I don't think I ever did wrong in my life. Neither do I believe God will hold it against me."

Chained to a pillar in the basement of the huge prison building, Creen continues to read the Bible, his only literature even during the days before he committed the assault upon Georgia's most famous prisoner.

Prison officials report that he has been permitted to read none of the literature or papers pertaining to the Frank case; in fact, that he has shown no such desire, preferring the Bible.

Creen promises to give a complete statement when he can talk with B. H. Hardaway, a contractor of Columbus, by whom he was employed previous to his sentence to prison. Hardaway, however, is not in Columbus. He will be communicated with upon his return.

### Saw Frank Attacked

Macon, Ga., July 19. George Johnston, who completed serving a one-year sentence from Spalding County at the state farm today and who occupied a bunk adjoining Leo M. Frank when the latter's throat was cut by William Creen, arrived here tonight.

"Creen whispered to another convict, 'Watch me,'" said Johnston. "I watched, too. Creen got up and went toward Frank's bunk with what looked like a folded newspaper in one hand. Creen looked down into Frank's face to make sure that it was Frank. Then he shoved his knee well up on Frank's chest, and with one hand shoved his head back, stretching his neck, while the other hand with the butcher knife in it came across his throat with a quick, jerky sweep."

"The convict to whom Creen spoke yelled. The lights were turned on and there was Frank with the blood spurting from his throat."

### Slaton Comments on Assault on Leo Frank

Seattle, Wash., July 19. Surprise and regret at the attempt on the life of Leo M. Frank by a fellow convict at the prison farm at Milledgeville, Ga., were expressed by former Governor John M. Slaton, of Georgia, who was here today on his way to San Francisco.

"I do not believe the attack on Frank could be traced to any outside influence working for Frank's destruction," he said. "I believe that the criminal mind, aroused perhaps by newspaper reports, was responsible. Frank was put in the safest place for him in the state."

He said he had no reason to regret commuting Frank's death sentence to life imprisonment. "I would do it again tomorrow if confronted with the same responsibility of mistake in the evidence by which he was convicted," declared Mr. Slaton.