Saturday, 21st August 1915: Governor Depends On Georgians’ Aid, The Atlanta Constitution

Reading Time: 10 minutes [1560 words]

Associated Press Sends Out Story Giving Attitude of Harris and Telling of Frank Case Developments.

The Associated Press, the greatest news-gathering organization in the world, last night sent out from the Atlanta office the following story of the day's developments in the Leo M. Frank case:

Governor Nat E. Harris let it be known on Friday that the people of Georgia would resent outside interference or advice in dealing with conditions growing out of the lynching of Leo M. Frank. "The lynching," he said, "was a crime against the civilization of our state and a blot upon Georgia's fair name that cannot be erased. None of us approves of mob violence or lynch law, and all of us regret what has happened. I have and will continue to exert every power at my command to bring the members of the mob to justice." "But if the members of the mob are brought to justice, it will be through the courageous efforts of Georgia officials and courts supported by the sentiment of the citizens of the state, and not through newspaper editorials and resolutions of indignation and offers of reward coming from other states."

"I am afraid these things will only serve to aggravate a situation that already is deeply humiliating to our people, and if they continue, will eventuate in a great deal more harm than good by defeating the efforts of the state to apprehend the guilty parties." The governor has received many telegrams and letters during the past two days urging him to take decisive action. Shortly before his inauguration, the latter part of June, when it was thought the Frank case might come before him for final determination, Governor Harris received many communications on the subject from all parts of the United States. He announced at that time that, "You can say for Nat Harris, that if the case ever comes before me, I will be guided by my own conscience and the influence of Georgians. Outside influences will have no weight. This is a Georgia case to be settled by Georgians."

So far as the public is advised, the only forward step taken in connection with the lynching on Friday was the announcement that the governor soon would ask the prosecuting officials of Baldwin and Cobb Counties to meet with him at his office to consider what future action shall be taken. The State Prison Farm is in Baldwin County and Frank's death, so far as is known, occurred in Cobb County. The superior court judge, the solicitor and the sheriff of the two counties are to be invited to the conference, which will be held as soon as is convenient for the officials to reach Atlanta.

There is some doubt among these officials, according to common report, as to which should take the initiative in discovering the identity of the so-called "Vigilance Committee" which abducted Frank from Milledgeville, and later left his body dangling at the end of a rope near Marietta. It is contended on behalf of the Milledgeville authorities that the actual killing of Frank did not take place in that county, and, therefore, the real prosecution of the case would not lie in their hands. On behalf of Cobb County authorities, it is argued that the officials there did not come in actual contact with the mob and were unaware of the crime until the perpetrators had made their escape. Governor Harris said he would urge the judges and solicitors to bring the matter before their respective grand juries, and would ask the sheriffs to co-operate in every possible way. No grand jury sessions are imminent in either county, and so far as could be learned tonight, no special sessions are contemplated.

Apparently the only tangible investigation of the lynching actually under way is that being conducted by Coroner John Booth, of Cobb County, who empanelled a jury soon after he cut down Frank's body last Tuesday morning, but postponed the sitting for a week after hearing the evidence of two witnesses as to the identity of the "Vigilance Committee's" victim. Coroner Booth said Friday that thus far, he had discovered only two witnesses who had seen the lynching party in automobiles approaching the vicinity of the giant oak near the Frey gin. One of these witnesses is William Frey himself. But neither was able to fix the identity of any member of the party. Frank was recognized, they say, because of his only partly clad figure. The members of the lynching "committee" wore heavy automobile goggles, which effectively served the purpose of masks.

A representative of the Associated Press visited Coroner Booth at his little country home two miles out of Marietta. He is 77 years old, but has the appearance and vigor of a man of many years his junior. Under the direction of the county commissioners, the coroner has employed Gordon Gann as special counsel for the inquest, which will be resumed next Tuesday morning in the Marietta courthouse. Mr. Booth was in a reminiscent mood on Friday. The oathbound secrecy of the "Vigilance Committee," which carried out so precisely the lynching of Frank, seemed to remind him of the old Ku-Klux-Klan days of the South Reconstruction Period. "I was a member of the Ku-Klux-Klan in Elbert County in those days," said the coroner. "We were organized by General Nathan B. Forrest, and we were divided into four twelves; that is, the county was divided into four districts, and there were twelve members of the clan in each district." The coroner recalled the terrible oath that was administered to the members of the Klan and the grim work sometimes undertaken.

"Did any member of the Klan ever violate his oath of secrecy?" he was asked. "In an adjoining county, one did, I believe, but he was never heard of again. Some of his relatives sort of looked for him for a while, but no trace was ever found." With regard to the Frank investigation, Coroner Booth said he was making every effort to learn the perpetrators of the lynching. "I am sworn to inquire, and to inquire diligently," he said, "and I am going to do it." So far as could be forecast, however, the verdict of the coroner's jury will be that Frank came to his death "at the hands of persons unknown."

Marietta Friday was the same quiet little village it normally is. The lynching was referred to by one citizen as "the storm had recently passed" and most of the residents of the city regard the incident in that light"a storm past and gone. Any passion which existed at the place where Mary Phagan lived seems to have given way entirely to a philosophical calm. "We are not sorry it was done; we are sorry it had to be done," was the way one resident of Marietta expressed the feeling of a large part of the community. It was freely admitted that the action of the "Vigilance Committee" might lead to other lawlessness that would be deeply regretted.

It has been reported from time to time that the identity of many of the members of the lynching "committee" was known to a majority of the residents of Marietta. Diligent inquiry by persons who know Marietta and her people proved these reports untrue. The people of Marietta either do not know or do not want to know who constituted the lynching party. The trunk of the oak tree, to which Frank was hanged, was entirely covered with cotton bagging, the jute material that covers cotton bales. This was done at the direction of Mr. Frey, owner of the place, to protect the bark from souvenir hunters. Men from the nearby cotton gin guard the tree, day and night. Mr. Frey reiterated today that he had been offered as high as $250 for the tree. He refused to sell. "I did not need the money," he said, "and besides, Mary Phagan's folks don't want that tree cut down. Several of her people came out here Friday. They hugged and patted that old tree and then they stood still and looked upward for a long time. I think they must have been praying."

Commissioners Will Go to Prison Farm.The State Prison Commission is planning to go back to the State Prison Farm next Monday to complete the work they had gone to attend last Monday when they were interrupted by the lynching of Leo M. Frank.

This work consists of arranging for the installation of improvements recommended and appropriated for by the last General Assembly, including the construction of new buildings and the installation of a waterworks and sewage disposal plant.

MOBBERS RETURNED GUN TO THE WARDEN

It became known on Friday, through a member of the State Prison Commission, that the mob which took from Warden Smith his gun, on the night of the Frank abduction from the State Prison, did not carry the gun away.

When members of the mob knocked on Warden Smith's door, Warden Smith, anticipating trouble perhaps, appeared at the door with a fine new pump gun. This was promptly taken away from him, and it was thought, was carried off by the mob. It was found later, however, in the office of the warden at the prison, it having evidently been left there purposely for the warden to get.