Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 147, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1915 — GOVERNOR COMMUTES FRANK SENTENCE [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR COMMUTES FRANK SENTENCE

Governor Slaton, of Georgia, Commutes the Death Sentence of Leo Frank to Life Imprisonment. After a great many attempts to have bis death sentence commuted, an appeal to the governor finally succeeded, and Leo M. Frank, convicted slayer of Mary Phagan, will serve a life sentence. Frank still protests his innocence and says that the day is not far off when he will ibe exonerated. Frank os now dressed in stripes denoting the lowest grade of prisoner. He will be known as “Convict No. 965.” Announcement of Governor Slaton's decision came several hours after Frank had 'been secretly taken from the jail and hurried to the state prison farm at Milledgeville. In making the announcement the governor made the following statement: “All I as Iris that the people of Georgia read my statement of the reasons why I commuted Leo M. Fraakls death sentence to life imprisonment, before they pass judgment. Feeling as I do about this case I would be a murderer if I allowed this man to hang.” After saving the life of Frank, Governor Slaton called out the state militia to disperse the mobs which assembled before his country home. Martial law was declared half a mile back of the governor’s home, half a mile in front and a distance of about , a quarter of a mile on either side. The crowd was dispersed only after a number of the troops bad been hit by brick and stones hurled from the crowd.