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4 TTTE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. There is nothing apparently so 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” are the two most notorious scandalmonger! In the universe—"they say” so and so; and lie or she Is all right, "but!” Character, upon which so much de pends In thia world, upon which civ ilization itself and decency and right Ls founded, Is, nevertheless, the most elusive oi. 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 vague 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 truthimist, 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, and I am mildly, but not rampantly, interested. I am & pretty good fel low myself, you know, and so are you —who are telling me about Jones— and while I am glad that Jones ls a fine fellow—like I am and like you are—I can not see why I 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’s Different. You stop me and tell me Jones is a grafter, despite his churchgoing pro clivities, and that, besides, he turns Jack habitually from the bottom of the deck—and up go my hands in holy horror! Bakes alive! I always DID think there was SOMETHING out of whack with Jones—and so forth and so on! And you can bet your sweet life I stop to listen while you unwind all “they say" of Jones, and how he’s a gvod fellow, “but!" If Jones is pulling h|s freight up- nf 11, Jones interests me indifferently in a way—but if Jones and his freight are involuntarily on the toboggan, it’s me to stand along the edge ol the slideway and watch the fun and make note of the wreckage at the bottom! I feel sorry for Jones—Just as 1 used to feel sorry always for the tea^brr beneath whom I had dex terously set up a pin, when said 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 u’hen I go to church it may so happen that I even pray for Jores—after I have prayed care fully for mysek! Now’ these broken observations are not altruistic, of course—they may be out of order, and a*, 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 wont of us. And so much had in the best of us, 7'hat it hardly behooves any of us To talk about the rest of us ” Now, then, having brought ourselves to the point where we can give even 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 within Conley, and Conley’s Isolated word. Conley’s charge against Leo Frank has not been corroborated by one wit 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 w’hat “th?y say” and ask no questions, as to be lieve anything such persons as Dalton say—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 \ last precinct has been heard from. Issues Challenge to State, hope I shall know the TRUTH of matter eventually—I should like know*, beyond a reasonable doubt. The defen*• has put Frank * char acter in issue It thereby challenges the State to break It down, if the State can. If the 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 wojf In sheep's clothing, the public ls entitled 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 1s a high ly undesirable and dangerous thing to have at large in any peaceful, orderly 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. He hasn’t had his opportunity yet, and I am willing to be patient as he goes forward. The defense Is seeking to establish Frank’s good character by the testi mony of many admittedly good citi zens. To the best of their knowledge and belief these good people are speaking the truth, the whole truth nothing but the truth. Hard to Back Up "the Daltons." People generally will o 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 v The trouble about the Daltons as corroboratora is that one never can find 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 some ground in public estimation, I 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 th e 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 « Peril. If the State comes forward, after Frank has made his showing as to good character, with a number of witnesses that the defens* ls 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, I sus pect, an impression most dangerously unfavorable to the defenda.it. One honorable and upright witness 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, categorial, and complete answer, or the State’s case necessarily will be weakened marked ly and, perhaps, fatally. J believe the public, however prone tL rush to conclusions primarily, and tc 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—who really w'ish to see him convicted or acquitted, regardless. I 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 I said in the beginning of this article, like Bill Nye’s definition of 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 I^eo FYank’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, F*rank 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 ls 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. 16.— Seventy-five dollars for apples from & Mingle tree is the record established by John McGiel, of Enterprise, in Butte County. The Best Food-Drink Lunch at Fountains W Insist Upon 55 HORLICSCS Avoid Imitations—Take No Substitute Rich milk, malted grain, in powder form. F or infants, invalids and growing children. Pure nutrition,upbuilding the whole body, bmgoratc^iursmg mothers and the aged. 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. EYCK’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 All Greatly Reduced If you haven’t been yet—better take our tip, come, you’ll be the gainer. Mail Orders Filled Promptly and Carefully at Reduced Prices Hugh W. Pennington, No. 165 South Pryor street, was killed when a through freight on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad between Atlanta and Montgomery was ditched at Ho- gansville, Ga.. early FYiday morning. According to officials of th« road, the wreck was caused by a spreading of the rails. Eleven cars of merchan dise and three cars of baggage were derailed, the engine remaining on the track. None of the trol.* crew was injured. As a result of the wTeck 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, Mrs. Leo Frank as She Appears Daily at the Trial of Her Husband. I ‘THE! SAY’ WON’T HURT LEO FRANK: STATE By JAMES B. NEVIN. NEW PHOTOGRAPH OF WIFE OF DEFENDANT ATUm DEIT IN WEST Hugh W. Pennington Is Killed When Freight Train Is Derailed at Hogansville, Ga. THE 999 STORE A BIG INNOVATION Something new on Whitehall! The 999 Store. No—not 999 Whitehall street as the streets 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 ^toclc 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 Si STORE 32 WHITEHALL