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TTTF ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. T THEY Sif WON’T HURT LEO FRANK; STATE T1 By JAMES B. NEVIN. There is nothing apparently #o plain to outside observation as character— Just character—and there is. strange to say, nothing so difficult at times to prove. "They say” and “but” ar* the two most notorious scandalmonger! in the universe—"they say” so and so. and he or she Is all right, "but!” Character, upon which bo much de. pends in this world, upon which civ ilisation itself and decency and right is founded, is, nevertheless, the most elusive of all things when it comes right down to brass tacks of proving it beyond the shadow of a doubt. Human nature, too, for some cu rious and vftgue reason, seems rather to relish the downfall of character and the undermining of reputation— and that, moreover, the while it is ve hemently and rather piously assuring itself that it does nothing of the kind! Kind words travel on leaden feet— gossip gallops in seven-league boots! Pessimist? Not at all—Just truthimlst, that's all! You stop me to tell me that. Jones is the best man you ever knew, that his wife loves him immensely and that his children and all the neigh bors* children fairly dote upon him. end 1 am mildly, hut not rampantly, Interested. I am a pretty good fel low myself, you know, and so are you —who are telling me about Jones— and while 1 am glad that Jones is a fine fellow-like I am and like you are—I can not see why 1 should throw any fits about It. And I—being the average sort of fellow, really—proceed not to throw any fits whatever in re the good Jones. BUT Scandal? That’* Different. You stop me and tell me Jones is a grafter, despite his churchgoing pro clivities, and that, besides, he turn* Jack habitually from the bottom of the deck—and up go my hands In holy horror! Sakes alive! 1 always DID think there was SOMETHING out of \ yrk with Jones—and so forth and so "bn! And you can bet your sweet life I stop to listen while you unwind all "they say” of Jones, and how he’s a good fellow, “but!” If Jones Is pulling his freight up hill, Jones interests me indifferently in a way—but If Jones and his freight are Involuntarily on the toboggan. lt’s me to stand along the edge of the slideway and watch the fun and make note of the wreckage at the bottom l I feel sorry for Jones—just ** 1 used to feel sorry always for the teacher beneath whom I had dex terously set up a pin, when said v ,teacher innocently sat down upon it. And after Jones has gone to smash down the old toboggan, I may expe rience an attack of sorrow for Jones, and next Sunday when I go to church it may so happen that I even pray for Jones—after 1 have prayed care fully for myself! Now thesis broken observations are not altruistic, of course—they may be out of order, and all that. Preface to Character Sketch. They are submitted merely by way of prefacing the citation just here of an ancient quat? ... running thus- wise: “There's so much good in the worst of us. And so much bad in the best of us, That it hardly behooves any of us To talk about the rest of us." Now\ then, having brought ourselves to the point where w r e can give even i such persons as Frank and Conley the benefit of the doubt in an argu ment adverse to the character of either—you know, good and well, gen tle reader, we always hand ourselves ALL the doubts, and some!—let us proceed in order to a consideration of the status of the Frank case involved in the character or lack of character in the defendant. Contemplating the matter of Frank’s character as a thing apart from the murder charge against him. the attack upon it thus far dwells w’ithin Conley, and Conley's isolated word. Conley’s charge against Leo Frank has not been corroborated by one wl:- ness worthy of belief—and it has no. been corroborated even by that one in anything save relatively inconsequen tial detail. One Just as well believe what “th n- say” and ask no questions, as to be lieve anything such persons as Dalton •ay—and probably better. I am sure I do not know whether Frank's character is good or bad. In respect of a conclusion either way. I am “from Missouri.” My mind is entirely open as to that —and I hope to keep it so until the j last precinct has been heard from. actcr In issue. Tt thereby challenges the State to break it down. If the State can. If th*» State can break it down, It should proceed to the breaking with all the vigor it fairly and honorably can command. If Frank Is a wolf In sheep’s clothing, the public Is entitle 1 to know it. and It Is the duty of the Solicitor General to make it known, If he can. A wolf in sheep’s clothing Is a high Iy undesirable and dangerous thing to have at large In any peaceful, orderl> and law-abiding community. Far from quarreling with the Solici tor General for showing that Frank Is a depraved character, I for one shall thank him if he makes his charge un mistakably plain. Maybe he can make It plain, and maybe he can not. Hi hasn't had his opportunity yet, and I am willing to be patient as he gO‘iS forward. The defense Is seeking to establlsn Frank’s good character by the testi mony of many admittedly good citi zens. To the best of their knowMedgo and belief these good people are speaking the truth, the whole trum and nothing but the truth. Hard to Back Up "the Daltons.” People generally will inclined to accept their statements as conclu sive, unless the evidence combating the same Is overwhelming It isn’t going to do, I think, for the State to bring more Daltons Into the case for the purpose of corroborat ing Conley. The trouble about the Daltons as corroborators is that one never can And anybody to corrobo rate the Daltons as sadly in need of corroborating, apparently, as even the Conleys. Frank, by putting his character in evidence, has gained som© ground in public estimation, 1 believe. At least, this action seems to show that he is willing to risk his all on the conten tion that, the State can find nothing vile in him, save in so far as the word of Conley can establish such an alle gation. Conley is not to be corroborated by innuendo, by suggestion, or by roundabout methods. He must be corroborated by people of some degree of decency and stand ing themselves, or not very many people will take unquestioned the sinister charge of the negro. One Good Witness a Peril. If the State comes forward, after Frank baa made his showing as to good character, with a number of witnesses that the defense is able to Impeach beyond question, as fast as they are Introduced, i do not believe Frank will suffer Irreparable injury from the Conley charge, in the long run. On tho contrary, if the State comes forward with even so few as one rep utable and believable witness as to Frank's evil character, there will re main in the minds of the Jury, 1 sus pect, an impression most dangerously unfavorable to the defends t. One honorable and upright w’ltness Against Frank in the matter of his character can do him far greater harm than a hundred impeachable witnesses. The State, having been confronted with the issue of Frank’s character —challenged in the gate, so to speak —must make brave, categorlal, and complete answer, or the State’s case necessarily will be weakened marked ly and, perhaps, fatally. 1 believe the public, however prone to rush to conclusions primarily, and to make up its mind upon surface Indications all too readily at times, nevertheless Is fair and Just in the end. I think it likely there are few’ ex tremists either way—for or against Frank w’ho really wish to see him convicted or acquitted, regardless. 1 think it is altogether likely, in deed. that hundreds of people, even inclined to side against Frank now, will gather a measure of satisfaction eventually, if he comes through the fire unscorched. Jumping at Conclusions. So the reader will observe that the things 1 said in the beginning of this article, like Bill Nye's definition of NEW PHOTOGRAPH OF WIFE OF DEFENDANT as She Appears Daily at the Trial of Her Husband. ATIMN DEIP IN 1ST POINT Hugh W. Pennington Is Killed When Freight Train Is Derailed at Hogansville, Ga. Hugh W. Pennington. No. 165 South Pryor street, was killed when a through freight on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad between Atlanta | gansvllle, Ga., early Friday morning. According to officials of the road, I the wreck was caused by a spreading I of the rails. Eleven cars of merchan dise and three cars of baggage were derailed, the engine remaining on the track. None of the tral.A crew waj injured. As a result of the wreck passenger trains on the Atlanta and West Point are being detoured over the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic by way of Union City and LaGrange, Ga. classical music, are not so bad as they sound. They referred merely to the forming of opinion upon incom- pleted and disconnected evidence, brought to light one way or another in the very beginning of shocking stories. Evil is, and always has been, in a way more entertaining to man than goodness—otherwise. Mother Eve never would have bitten the apple, and so on. The defense has thrown a mighty challenge to the State in tendering Leo Frank's character as an issue— particularly in that the defense alone could do that. Unless the State meets that issue fairly and squarely, candidly and without quibble or faltering, Frank must profit immensely by the move. If, on the other hand, the State does meet the issue successfully and completely, Frank’s case is undone, and Frank is lost. UNIVERSITY CLUB ELECTS. The University Club Friday an nounced the following elections: J. Render Terrell, Greenville; A. L. Lloyd, Covington; E. V. Heath, Waynesboro, and Escol Graham. Mc Rae. ONE APPLE TREE YIELDS $75. SACRAMENTO, CAL.. Aug. 15.— Reventv-five dollars for apples Tom a .•••ingle tree Is the record established by John McGlel, of Enterprise, in Butte County. The Best Food-Brink Lunch at Fountains BYCK’S Low Shoe Sale Goes Merrily Along Never have we sold so many shoes in any previous sale as we have this time. Each sale is greater than the previous one. The people know the reductions are genuine and that we carry the stock. Ladies’ Low Shoes and Hosiery Men’s “ Boys’ Girls’ “ Children’s “ 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 44 SWF" Insist Upon HORLICK’S ORIGINAL GENUINE Avoid Imitations— Take No Substitute Ihe Issues Challenge to State. i D L II I. J it I hope i .hall know the tri th of | ^ mult, malted grain, m powder form. matter eventually -1 should like I infants, invalids and growing children. OW. beyond a reasonable doubt. ' Purenutntion.unbuildmgthewholebody. L £euae has put 1'.auk's thar- Invigotates nursing mothers and the aged. All Greatly Reduced If you haven’t been yet—better take our tip, come, you’ll be the gainer. Mail Orders THE CTADF A BIG INNOVATION on Whitehall! No—not 999 as the streets Something new The 999 Store. Whitehall street are numbered; but right in the center of the most exclusive and fashionable shopping dis trict, and still on Whitehall. The real street number you’ll find below. But—listen: Men’s Suits at $9.99 Really Worth From §18.00 to $25.00 HOW CAN WE DO IT? Many manufac turers of men’s fine clothing have season over stocks. They are willing to sell these at far less than cost of making—if they can get cash. WE HAD THE CASH and bought thou sands of Men’s Fine Suits at astonishing dis counts. New, stylish suits—not old, last year stock AND YOU CAN BUY now, at the 999 Store, suits from your favorite maker for less than they cost to produce. THE STYLES are new, the materials fine --serges, worsteds and all the other favored materials for men’s wear. Many of the popular Mohair suits are included. ALL SIZES are included in the various lines and expert salesmen will see that you are prop erly fitted. THINK OF IT! Buying a standard make two or three-piece suit—late Summer or early Fall weight— A SUIT WORTH $20.00 OR MORE FOR $9.99 THE 999 STORE More healthful than tea or coffee. Agrees with the weakest digestion. Keep it on your sideboard at home. A quick lunch prepared in a minute, j