Newspaper Page Text
, 5
THE ATL<AJN l'A liEUKUlAM AND NEWS.
LEO FRANK’S 01 STORY
TO ADD FINAL TOUGH TO
STATE’S GREATEST TO
By JAMES B. NEVIN.
It Is rather . n exlraordinary thin*
that on this Monday, the beginning of
the fourth week of the most remark
able murder trial aver held in Geor
gia, the Interest should be in nowise
abated or lessened, and that the open
ing of court to-day saw the biggest,
hungriest and most insistent crowd
of curious spectators yet on hand at
the opening of court.
Far from letting go the Phagan
mystery, the public to-day seems to
be gripping it even more eagerly than
ever before.
Opinion still is widely divided as to
the guilt or innocence of Leo Frank,
and there have been many switches
of conclusion and reversals of the
ory, pro and con, within the past
week, and no doubt there is much
more of the same sort of thing to
come.
People to-day believe Frank guilty
who started out believing him inno
cent, and the rule is working right
around the other way, moreover!
Despite the many things that have
been said and the countless things
that have been written of the Frank
trial and all that led up to it. it re
mains, on the threshold of its fourth
week, the most absorbing melodrama
ever enacted in Atlanta—the most
bitterly fought and the most uncom
promisingly contested trial known to
the criminal history of the State of
Georgia.
The principal parties to the case
are, of course, Mary Phagan, the dead
girl; Leo Frank a defendant at
bar. and Jim Conley, the grimly ac
cusing nei j.
Four months ago no one of these
people was known to many Geor
gians.
Mary Phagan, a sweet little work
ing girl, had a circle of perhaps a
hundred friends—not 1 per cent of
the population of Atlanta ever had
t ard of her.
Frank Little Known.
Leo Frank, the sunerintendent of
the National Pencil Factory, was
hardly known by very many more
people—he had a business and col
lege acquaintance, and a limited cir
cle of social Intimates. Not more
than 2 or 3 per cent of Atlanta’s pop
ulation ever had heard of him.
Jim Conley, the negro, more than
well known in police circles, along
the way of the "Butt In” bar in Pe
ters street, and a familiar figure
enough along Darkest Decatur, num
bered among his respectable ac
quaintances not more than 60 people
—if nearly so many—perhaps.
Now—less than four months after
the terrible deed enacted in the pen
cil factory on Saturday, April 26—
there 1b not a hamlet a crossroads
store or a country or city home In all
Georgia that has not heard of every
party to the sordid story, and that has
not discussed everyone of them, to
gether and singular, from every point
of view imaginable!
It is more than morbid curiosity
upon the part of neople that prompts
this great and never-flagging interest
in the Phagan case—it Is more than
the mere fascination of crime that
links the heart and mind of the people
to It.
In the case of Leo Frank there is
that Indescribable element we call
•human interest,” that vague and
eluttive thing that tugs at the heart
strings and nags at the conscience—
there is the knowledge upon the part
of the public that a monstrous crime
has been committed, and that re
sponsibility for it must be fixed, no
matter the cost and no matter the
effort!
The public does not clamor for Leo
Frank's life so much, nor for Jim
Conley's—it demands that responsi
bility for Mary Phagan’s brutal mur
der be fixed, and it will not be satis
fied until that responsibility IS fixed.
At the same time, I believe—and
I have believed all along—that the
public wants to see Justice done and
fair play Indulged in.
If FTank is not guilty he has been
punished already beyond reason or
reparation. He should be turned
loose, with every amend decency and
mistaken zeal may summon to their
embarrassed effort at righting a
frightful wrong.
If, however, he is guilty, and that
is shown, then the inconvenience and
discomfort accorded him thus far will
matter little, if anything.
It is a tremendously big game the
lawyers are playing in the stuffy lit
tle courtroom In the old City Hall
Building.
On one side is the majesty of the
law of the land, that must be main
tained at any and all cost—that ma
jesty of the law that may be invoked
in behalf of the humblest no less than
the highest. On the other hand Is
the defendant—an abstract thing in
the sight of the law.
On one side is the great State of
Georgia, calling for a “tooth for a
tooth and an eye for an eye"—on
the other side are those guaranteed
rights of citizens, embodied In Frank,
that must not be challenged lightly
or without complete and compelling
reason.
It Is a Big Game,
It is a big game—it Involves that
most precious of all gifts of God,
A human life, and a human reputa-
GIRL WORKER WHO TESTIFIES TO
GOOD CHARACTER OF LEO FRANK
tion, a home and the happiness there
of. It Is a grime, nevertheless, that
involves on the contrary a sinister
charge of utter unworthiness upon
the part of the man who still pro
tests his rights to these precious
gifts, jealously given of a Divine
Power, and as jealously guarded by
His laws, no less than by the laws
of human beings.
One can not get away from the con-
clurion, cited many times, thAt, after
all is said and done. Frank's charac
ter will determine the verdict in the
case now on trial.
His character will be found to be
his greatest, asset and h1s most aure
dependence, In this his hour of press
ing peril—as hi? lack of it, if shown,
must prove to be his final and ever
lasting damnation.
Frank, by injecting his character
in issue, has challenged the worst
upon the part of the State.
He has cited scores of witnesses
to uphold it—he has made a brave,
and maybe an abundant, showing.
The State, however, says It will
break down that character—that It
will show Frank’s unspeakable de
pravity, even as charged glibly and
smugly by the negro, Conley, as yel
uncorroborated by any person the
most abandoned would care to ba-
lieve.
If the State can do this thing
Can it be possible that Frank,
through all these years, has been
leading a double life?
Can it be true that he has, while
professing to be an honorable and
upright man, a faithful husband, a
dutiful and worthy son, a deserving
and decent friend among his neigh
bors and his kind, nevertheless been,
really, a moral degenerate, an ignoble
and deceitful creature—and can it be
that these things, so long and so clev
erly concealed, at last led him to mur
der?
The State’* Contention.
The State holds that his family cir
cle, his intimate social acpuaintances,
and his business associates, would,
as a matter of fact, be the last peo
ple in the world to know the truth of
Frank’s double life—for, say they,
Frank would employ every artifice
and summon to his aid every possible
device to keep those very people from
discovering the truth concerning him.
This, so the State contends, is pre
cisely what Frank did do—and in
that way they justify his alleged in
timacy with Conley and his quick
calling upon Conley for help, when
eventually he found himself with the
blood of a human being on his guil
ty hands.
The State is asking a good deal
when it asks the public to believe
this of Frank, in the light of the ev
idence of his good character tender
ed last week, and It hardly is possi
ble that the public WILL believe it,
unless the State makes its charges
crystal clear.
Men will ask themselves—and will
ask themselves wisely—whose repu
tation is safe, if it may be brushed
away and broken down by the un
corroborated word of such a creature
as Conley?
But, Conley uncorroborated in one
thing—while Conley corroborated is
quite and altogether another!
The State is yet to be heard in re
buttal of Frank’s character witnesses
—and so Judgement must be suspend
ed pending their revelations.
The only point is—and it has been
an evident point so long that to re
emphasize it seems trite—the State
must make good on its sinister charge
of perversion and degeneracy upon
the part of Frank, or its case will be
greatly weakened, perhaps beyond re
pair.
I have an idea that Frank’s state
ment on the stand may weigh heavily
in the minds of the Jury.
Frank the Star.
Indeed, it is not improbable that
the very best Jury speech and jury
argument put forth in defense of
Frank, with all due appreciation and
respect of and for Mr. Rosser and Mr.
Arnold, will be made by Leo Frank
himself!
His statement, although not sworn
to, will carry an appeal that hardly
can be framed of other Ups—either
that, or it will fall flat and stale and
of no consequence whatever.
The trial lung ago resolved itself
into a matter of Frank vs. Conley.
It is the defendant’s word against
the negro’s.
Both have self interest in the ver
dict- the life of one or the other must
pay the forfeit of Mary Phagan’s
murder.
The forthcoming statement of
Frank, and the rebuttal of the char
acter witnesses, constitute the two
events ahead that may, within them
selves, make or mar this case, as one
may come to view it eventually.
And it is this situation, no doubt,
that holds up the interest to-day, as
the fourth week begins—for, despite
all that hao gone before, the case is
not yet nearly ended, and there still
remains many things undetermined.
BUTTS COURT SITS.
JACKSON, Aug. 18.—Butts County
Superior Court was convened for a
weeks’ session this morning. Import
ant damage suits and criminal cases
are docketed.
Atlanta Postmaster Counts on Aid
of Strong Political Influence
in Committee.
She was one of
many factory
employees who
aided
accused.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 18.—The
Postofflce Department has received
information that Postmaster Hugh L.
McKee at Atlanta will refuse to send
In his resignation as asked for by
Postmaster General Burleson in a let
ter dated August 14, but will throw
his case before the Senate Committee
on Postofflce* when the name of his
successor comes up for confirmation.
Notwithstanding the fact that he
will not receive any support from
Senator Hoke Smith or from Repre
sentative William Schley Howard, of
Atlanta, Mr. McKee can count on aid
enough to make a fight that will rank
with the contest in the Gainesville of
fice, when Mrs. Helen D. Longstreet
opposed being supplanted.
“I will leave it to the people of
Atlanta to decide whether or not my
administration as Postmaster of At
lanta, Is inefficient. The patrons of
the office I consider more competent
to Judge than the Postofflce Depart
ment officials In Washington.” said
Postmaster Hugh McKee Monday,
following the receipt of a communi
cation from Firs't Assistant Postmas
ter General Roper Sunday demanding
his resignation within the shortest
time possible.
"Further than this I do not wish to
discuss the subject at this time,” de
clared the Postmaster. "Within a
few days I will prepare a reply to
the letter received by me from my
superior officer. I am not Inclined to
exploit my grievances with the Gov
ernment in the public press.”
‘Tf there is inefficiency in the At
lanta Postoffice I repeat that I do
not know it. While the time I have
yet to serve is 6hort. my term ex
piring in January, to the best of my
knowledge I am guilty of no violation
of departmental rules and »ee no rea
son why I should not serve out my
full term.
"The report of the Postofflce In
spectors which was reported to have
been submitted to the head of the
department several months ago, it
has been stated, contained all sorts
of charges'against me. I have never
seen the report and do not know that
there was ono prepared, hence I am
still m the dark.”
Down Went His Gum,
On Went His Train
ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 18.—Chew
ing gum or tobacco while on duty has
been forbidden the motormen by tho
management of the Short Line road.
Glen Grice bought a penny stick of
gum at Ocean City Just before he
boarded his train for a run to this
city. After the train had attained a
30-mlle gait. Grice swallowed the
gum. It lodged In his throat and shut
off his wind.
The motorman fell over unconscious
and the train, heavily loaded with
passengers, ran for three miles be
fore the conductor could stop it.
U. S. Will Cremate
Dead in Canal Zone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 18—The
bodies of persons who die in the
Panama Canal Zone will be cremated
there by the United States as a pre
vention against the spread of pesti
lence.
A contract for the crematory plant
has been awarded to a Boston firm
and erection will begin immediately.
Organist Would Bar
Babies at Recitals
Eugene Wyatt, famous English or
ganist, was of the opinion Monday
that if he performed a second time
at the Auditorium-Armory he would
of a necessity exclude infants in arms
from his audience.
HU recital Sunday afternoon was
frequently interrupted by the ambi
tious wails of prospective Carusos,
Gardens and an occasional Scotti.
Professor Wyatt is the first of a num
ber of organists to be presented by
the Music Festival Association be
fore un official city organist is se
lected. He made a fine impression on
a large audience.
Columbus to Have
Eight-Story Hotel
COLUMBUS, Aug. 18.—Vice Pres
ident J. Ralston Cargill, of the Co
lumbus Hotel Company, whloh Is to
erect a $28,000 hotel in Columbus, is
asking for bids for the erection of the
structure.
It is to stand on the comer of
Twelfth street and Second avenue,
and is to be eight stories high.
TRIES TO
Savannah Minister Declares That
Flanders, Alleged Victim, Died
From Natural Causes.
Autos Can’t Speed
At Five Points, Says
Recorder Preston
SAVANNAH, GA., Aug. 18.—The
Rev. John S. Wilder, pastor of the
South Side Baptist Church, haB re
turned from Atlanta, where he ap
peared before the State Prison Com
mission In behalf of Dr. W. J. Mc-
Naughton, the Emanuel County phy
sician who is in Jail under sentence
of death in September for the al
leged murder of Fred Flanders.
All of the evidence has now been
presented to the Prison Commission
with the exception of one or two af
fidavits, which will be sent to At
lanta early next week. The commis
sion is expected to act on the case
on the first Monday in September.
Immediately after the decision of the
commission is rendered the matter
will he taken up with the Governor.
Everything will have to be done dur
ing the first week in September, be
cause September 6 is the date set for
the execution.
"I feel that nothing short of a par
don would vindicate an innocent man
and correct one of the greatest mis
takes ever made in Georgia,” said
Mr. Wilder, who expresses the ut
most confidence that Dr. McNaugh-
ton will not be allowed to hang. "I
have always contended that Flanders
was not murdered, but died from nat
ural causes. I think this has now
been indisputably established. We
have the sworn statements of seven
teen of the most prominent physi
cians in Georgia, including an expert
who gives mure arsenic possibly than
any other physician in the Southern
Slates, ail of them agreeing that Flan
ders did not have the symptoms of
arsenic poisoning, but the symptoms
of nephritis, or Bright's disease. If
these medical authorities are correct,
then no murder has been committed,
and Dr. McNaughton should go free."
Patient Dies After
300 Neck Operations
BALTIMORE. Aug. 18.—After un
dergoing more than 300 operations
during three years for the removal of
a growth in his throat, George Mc
Dowell, 31 years old. formerly of
Spartanburg, S. C.. died in a hospital
here while surgeons were making a
last attempt to save his life.
For the last eighteen months. Mc
Dowell breathed through a silver tube
inserted in his throat. He had been
under so many operations that he be-
•tcame immune to the effects of co
caine.
Recorder Pro Tern. Preston Mon
day morning stressed the dangers of
pedestrians at Five Points.
C. W. Green, a chauffeur, was on
trial at the time for running his car
against Herman Lichtenstein, a mer
chant, Saturday afternoon and Jam
ming him against a trolley car. Traf
fic Officer Burnett and several wit
nesses testified that Green had speed
ed the car in an effort to beat the
trolley car: Lichtenstein was in the
act of boarding the car when struck.
He was only slightly hurt. Green
was fined $15.75, and Judge Preston
warned that autoists must run slow
ly and use the greatest of care at
Five Points.
THE PLAY
THIS WEEK
ON HALF RATIONS
Factional Fight in the Tennessee
General Assembly Hits That
State’s Wards.
Sailor* In Movie Romance.
“Victory,” a wonderful motion pic
ture in five reels, will be the attraction
all of this week at the Grand, daily
matinee at 2:30 and night at 8:30.
The picture was made in Cuba by a
company which had the aid and the
permission of the United States Navy.
It is a story of love and war. It shows
exactly what the navy does in peace and
what might happen in war. The Bat
tleship Utah plays a most prominent
part, and in the land and sea battles
hundreds of sailors and marines are
used.
After the picture was exhibited pri
vately in Washington last month. Act
ing Secretary of the Navy Franklin
Roosevelt gave the owners a strong let
ter of indorsement.
Many Surpri»e* at Forsyth.
Pleasant surprises feature the bill at
the Forsyth thi3 week, taking the place
of some of the acts announced to ap
pear. In one case sickness prevented
a feature coming on from New York and
an accident broke the promise of an
other of tho acts. However, these two
happenings made it possible to secure
Toots Paka and her Hawaian dancers
and musicians, and brings the famous
< ’astillions, in their wonderful novelty
act to Atlanta. The bill is going to be
better than originally announced.
Willie “Weston will appear in charac
ter songs and recitations. The othei
numbers on the bill will be Clayton Ken
nedy and Mattie Rooney in a piano play
ing. singing and dancing novelty: Fors
ter and Lovette in a comedy idea; the
Nikko Troupe of Japanese, the be*t In
the profession, and Grace Demar, a pret
ty and entertaining comedienne.
NASHVILLE, Aug. 18.—The Ten
nessee General Assembly is sched
uled to reassemble Tuesday so that
the appropriation bill may be passed
and prevent suffering in some of the
charitable institutions of the State.
/With the fall months approaching
and some of the State institutions
subsisting on half rations, the ques
tion grows serious with them when
winter supplies must soon be pur
chased and the available means now
being far less than the required sums
for the summer months.
The institutions mostly in need of
aid are the State Industrial School,
the School for the Mutes, the Blind
School and the Boys’ Reformatory.
Notwithstanding these appeals that
have come from trustees of these In
stitutions, there is grave doubt as to
whether the prolonged session of the
General Assembly may be gotten in
working order at any time soon be
cause of the intense feeling that ex
ists over the fight between the Dem
ocrats and the Fusionists.
ROB NEWPORT GEM SHOP.
NEWPORT, R. I., Aug 18. — Burg
lars cleaned out Herrman's jewelry
store during the night. The loss
is estimated at between $7,000 and
$10,000.
$6 WRIGHTSVILLE
BEACH
Round trip Saturday, Aupist
23. Special train, sleepers and
coaches. Leave Old Depot 6 p. m.
SEABOARD.
Widow of Wealth
‘Turkey Trots’ at 78
PORT JERVIS, N. Y.. Aug. 18.—In
proceedings to test the competency of
Mrs. Mary N. Gray to manage her
$50,000 estate, It was testified that thg
78-year-old widow had these fad«:
Joy rides from Honesdale to New
York.
Turkey trotting in the Wayne Hotel
corridor.
Giving huge tips.
Wearing four skirts and a sweater
to keep out evil spirits.
Robert H. Gray, of Denver, a
nephew, says her physician has drawn
exorbitant fees.
Woman Prefers Jail
Term to Probation
When Mrs. Lutie Allen, 19. of No.
69 Tennelle street, vehemently refused
to go on probation. Monday, she was
allowed to pass 24 hours additional
behind prison liars to "think it over.”
Mrs. Allen, whose break with her
husband, C. C. Allen, resulted in both
husband and wife appearing before
Recorder I’ro Tem Preston last week,
was arrested by Policemen Scott and
McDaniel early Monday at Five
Points at the request of relatives
who wished her placed on proba
tion.
SEABOARD EXCUR
SION TO WRIGHTS
VILLE.
$fi round trip. Saturday, August
23. Special train leaves 6 p. m.
SEMI-ANNUAL STATEMENT
For the six months ending June 30, 1913, of the condition of the
Franklin Life Insurance Company
OF SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,
Organized under the laws of the State of Illinois, made to the Governor of
the Stqte of Georgia in pursuance to the laws of said State. Principal of
fice. Sixth and Lawrence, Springfield, HI.
I. CAPITAL STOCK.
Amount of capital stock $ 100,000.00
Amount of capital stock paid up in cash 100,000.09
II. ASSETS.
Total assets $6,039,945.90
Less unadmitted assets 80,447.81
Admitted assets $5,959,498.09
III. LIABILITIES.
Total liabilities .. $5,959,498.09
IV. INCOME DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR 1913.
Total income $ 843,189.91
V. DISBURSEMENTS DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE
YEAR 1913.
Total disbursements $ 741,745.62
Greatest amount insured in any one risk $ 15,000.00
Total amount of Insurance outstanding 46,411,123.00
A copy of the act of Incorporation, duly certified, is of file in the office
of the Insurance Commissioner.
STATE OF ILLINOIS—County of Sangamon.
Personally appeared before the undersigned Henry Abels, who. being
duly sworn, deposes and says that he is the secretary of the Franklin
Life insurance Company, and that the foregoing statement is correct and
true. HENRY ABELS.
Sworn t« and -subscribed before me this 15th day of August, 1913.
WILL TAYLOR, Notary Public.
| “A- i (
,'liL “
RICH & BROS. CO.f
Lace Remnants Are Flying
They have taken the aeroplane eraxe. All
in a heap have we plaoed them an dannounce that all
will be sold for just half the market price. To make this
reduction absolutely fair to ourselves, we ought to tell
that the marked price is just one-half the original sell
ing price. All-overs, bands, edges, flounces—every
form of every lace.
One-half marked price—1-4 original price.
(Laces—Main Floor)
Modest—Pretty—
i
3
Comfortable
$1.25 Princess Slips 98c
Double Front Gore Style.
Fashion seems to lend us on with little-
heed to extremes. Then, when we grow most
wary, she produces one of her favorite offer
ings. This time it is a dainty princess slip
with a double front gore. It is well-fitted,
tastefully trimmed with linen lace and af
fords a security which one petticoat never
gave. Sizes—.34, 36 and 38. 93c.
Other dainty styles.
These are not made with double front,
but have a tiny yoke with pretty machine
embroidery. Sizes—16, 18, 34, 36 and 38.
98c.
\\
(Muslinwear—Second Floor)
Y
£
1
Fall NoveltiesS in WashXioods
silk
of i
tal
Which do you prefer—heavy wool a
which must go to the cleaners or wash mate 1
much the same effect? It is all a matter of
but the new fall goods show silk and cotton g<
which can enjoy the tub without injury, while'
rivaling the heavier materials in style and effect.
New Fall Ratines. 1 t
Half silk and cotton. In new bourette effect. Extreme-
ly handsome. The yard, 75c. £
Brocaded Charmeuse. j
Half silk. This needs a label in order to be distinguish- g»
ed as a wash fabric. The yard, 75c. 3»
Brocaded Tussah. %
All colors. Usually graceful for drapery effects. £
Half silk. The yard, 50c. £
Brocaded Ratine. 2
Latest importation. 40 inches wide. The yard $1.60.
Ratine Raye. «
Good quality of popular weave. 40 inches wide. The £
yard, $1.00. £
(Wash Goods—Main Floor, Loft) £
The August furniture sale continues to maintain
its record of all furniture at a reduction of from 10
to 50 per cent.
(Furniture—Fourth Floor)
:! Royal Society Packages j
I 10c--19c--29c
l 1 * . !
■=5 Did you ever hear of a prettily designed telephone pod, ■
/S shaving pad, shoe bag, laundry list or work bag going out!
-S of style? Impossible. Yet because we have many discon-1
tinned patterns in Royal Society packages we have made <
5 reductions on just three articles.
35 Yon may now obtain:
25c and 35c packages for 10c, ;
gt 50c packages for 19c.
75c packages for 29c. j
All in the noted Royal Society designs with working j
a materials and full directions.
(Center Alslo, Main Floor) i
Corsets for $1.00 |
Perhaps you have suffered during the warm weather £
more than necessary . A summer net corset would have S
saved much annoyance. You can get one now, in all sizes, £
for $1.00. .Medium bust: long hip. Ought to be called £
“Comfort” model. Baliste corsets—durable and dainty— «
$1.00.
(Corsets—Second Floor)
INWWMJW M- RICH & BROS. CO. Mfflflta!l
~T
i