Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ACCUSES CITY OFFICIALS. CITY MANAUKK HOHNE TKLLS liEAl FOltT CITIZENS OF HIN WoltK. *ay? Hint Ho Investigated Mutters Tt?'roughly Before Taking Action? City Imourrr says Mayor Is Not Doing Hut) by iVoph*. Beaufort. Aug. 20.?A crowded hall listened with intense Interest for an he ir last night to U,e ex-clty man sger. H. C. Hurne. Jr.. give sn ac? count of his stewardship, la a con? versational tone, with marked delib? eration, without anything savoring of vituperation, and hardly any com? ment on hla facta he delivered what was In effect a terrific arraignment of Mayor banner and Councilman Mertener. II? charged the latter with false returns of his banks' bond holdings, which would lay him liable to a hue of ll.uOU. and with other false returns by which the town, State and county have lost taxes. He cbarged Mayor Uunner with at first encouraging him with unearthing and exposing these conditions and then .mining Councilman Marscher In dis? missing him on the ground of fric? tion between the councilman and the city manager. The recall petition will probably be sent to the governor at once. Th? Hev. J. 11. Noland opened the meeting with prayer. Chairman J. B. Dodd tlrat called on City Treasurer Legare. who has directed Mr. Home In his moves to collect the back taxes. Toe treasurer read a concise statement of his position He recited the Incidents of the attempt to col lect from one uf the local banks and Acting Ms>or Marscher s Interference In his own Interest, and the appeal to Circuit Judge Itice and the court's decree In his favor. The concluding sentence sums up his position: "The mayor Ir. dismissing the city manager In the midst of efficient financial ser vice to the community, and while the clsims against delinquents in which he Is the principal witness are pend Ing. to oblige one of the alleged de ltnquents. Is not doing his duty to the people who have honored him with this high position." The chairman then stated thut the mayor and councilman referred to had been Invited by letter to be present and called on them to come forward Neither was present. Mr. Marscher paid no edition to the luwtatlon Th" mayor sent a communication that erat read i>\ the tiev. <\ C. Brow p. I was general in tie term*. The mos slgsnllcanw p lagia^h |g| 1 haWi felt for some MJbSj that the lack of har mosy between the city manager and the council was detrimental to th successful carrying out of the com? mission form of city government with a city manager. It la my belief that Mr. Hurne was influenced In his ac? tions by advice of parties other than those who employed him, and I as? sure you that I do not propose to li ? ft mere tlgure head In my position as mayor. This sad other reasons have led me to the belief that the best in terest of the town would be served by the removal of Mr. Horn?." Though the gathering was mani? festly in sympathy with Mr. Home end applauded him at several times, many friends of the mayor and coun? cilman were present. It was a very serious and orderly meeting, in spite of the acute Interest with which the whole community is following the situation, and the tense moments when the speaker made hin specific charges. Mr. Home began by depre? cating the feel that he could not meet his accusers fsce to fuce and make his statements In their presence "What 1 her?* charge is llbelous If not true." he stated at one point; and at another that he went to the State treasurer, tn omptroller general and the State f ?\ < ?mmission to g?d many of his facts and they stand ready to ba^k him. The city manager pro tern.. Mr. ? um. then took the platform and told the cltl/ens that he approved Mr. Horne most heartilv In every essential position that he takes, which state? ment was applauded. Why Hanson Is Prohibition. There Is nothing radical or unrea? sonable In helping a weak man to carry his weeh'g S/agSS home to his wife on Saturday nigh., there is noth Ina fanatical in enabling her to send hSf eStldren to neb >l with good clothes, good shoes, and a good dinner In the little basket. Prohibition serve* the child as well as the man It is for the wife n?. well as the husband. It Is for society ss well as for the Individual It is for the government as well as f??r the governed. In Kansas it pays the doctor his bills, the lawyer his fees, the pastor his salary, it helps the milkman, the farmer, the baker, the but* her. the grocer, the newsboy, the dentis?, the bookstore, the photograph? er, the tsllor. the dressmaker, the merchant and the manufacturer.'This Is why the people of our State are s<? ?horoughly committed to its support. npposlMon to it has practically cens sd In every quarter.??luv. Stuhl?. Associ im nUMH ACCOUNT <>1 MM ni l (Uli: LYNCHING, ; Narrator HomtUh's Trip from Mil Icdgcvlllc to Hartum and Illegal llunging of I'rlsoiU'r?Frank Had Nothing to Bgjr, Sa? Account. Atlanta. Ga., Aug. 2 2.?Tho llrst actual story of all that transpired on I the death ride of Leo M. Frank from Milledgeville to Marietta be? tween midnight and dawn lust Tues? day morning became available to the Associated Press today. The recital did not come through second or third hands, but in t manner which seemingly placed its authen? ticity beyond all question. The nar? rator, however, will not be a witness before the OoMl county grand Jury which on September 1 will be asked to undertake a thorough investiga? tion of the lynching of the man al? leged to hnve been the slayer of lit? tle Mary I'lm^aii. It became known today that Gov. Nat K. Harris dur? ing the past few days has received several anonymous threatening let? ters purporting to warn him not to go "too far" In his Investigation of the lynching. The governor is not inclined to take the letters at all seriously, but looks upon them as the outgrowth of the disturbed sen? timent of the moment. The "inside" story of the events which prexaled the finding of Frank's lifeless body swaying from the limb of the biggest oak tree in the vicinity of "Bill" Frey's gin cleared up many phases of the tragic incident, which heretofore have been veiled in mystery. First. Frank did not confess. He tfriM was asked if he had anything to say, but on each occasion replied ?No."' Asked pointedly If he killed the Phagan girl, he Is said to have made no reply whatever. Second. No attempt was made t( force a confession. Frank's state? ment Just prior to his death that h( loved his wife and mother better than he did his life came unexpect? edly and without questioning. Third. Frank was not maltreated in any way prior to the actual lynch? ing. Stories that he may have met violent death before hanged to thi Frey tree are without foundation. Fourth. Frank walked a distance 01 -'00 yards from the automobile to tin death t without i faltering atop a/it hunt a si^h or semblance of a pro rest. Foorlng perhaps that his best) aitght OOVei reich his relatives. h< asked tii*'. the ?'fjltlng ring he von I ae delivered to a newspaper man witl the solemn promise that it would b. turned over to his wife. This wisl ?vas carried out. Fifth. Frank was told from th? *tart that he was to be "executed is the courts had directed that, hi ??e and every effort was made to set that the "legal hanging," as the mol termed the lynching, was carried out | in an orderly manner. Members an I ;aid to resent any intimation that Frank was ' multreated" while it, their custody. They assert he wa> <iven exactly the same consideratioi. usually given to a condemned man on the day of his execution. The rough handling of the body after it was cut kOSru was a matter concerning which members of the mob feel they wert not responsible. Sixth. The members of the part> felt they had a "sacred duty" to per? form in "carrying out the mandate of the courts of the State and of tin l.'nlted States." There was no DIOl plrit, no demonstration, and ther? is said to have been no idea of hang? ing Frank in the public square at Marietta or in the cemetery when Mary l'hanan is buried. There was. however, u determination that the I "execution" should take place in Cobb county. Inasmuch us all the mem? bers of the party are said to be resl b-nts of Cobb county tho reason for i bin It* obvious. Seven automobiles wore required to transport the mob from Marietta to Milledge\illc. ?>nly font returned, in? cluding tho car in which Frank rode. All of the m o bines wore smalt cars Of a popular make. These cars wcrei specially selected became of the dilti? culty In Identifying them. No car of Conspicuous color or design was Wanted. There were probably 2^ men In the lynching party. The machines left Marbatu Singly during the afternoon of Monday last and It was shortly after 10 o'clock when the prison farm waa reached After Warden Smith and Superin? tendent Burke had been called from their homes and handcuffed, the party proceeded to the prison house .n a hu h Frank was just recovering from the wound Inflicted on his throat by Wllltnm Croon, a fellow prls.r. and was to have boon returned to the regular Bleeping dormitory on Tuea? da] night On the night of his death, ? however, he was still living in the hospital room adjoining the warden's oIUm When lite l> aching part1 had ? n Ltorcd thp prison end its members wore disarming tho outer guards, one I of the "truetioa" tl the farm who u 'also on guard duty quickly blow out j I an oil lamp burning just outside Frank's door. He also extinguished the dim light burning in the hospital , room. A member of the invading party was quick to see this, lie hailed the "trusty." "Come here with a match," he commanded. "I have nothing of one," replied the convict guard. "Well, you had better get one damned quick." The guard saw the gleam of a re? volver and lost no time In comply? ing. So frtr as known this was the only semblance Of an oath used in Frank's presence. This was In keep? ing with the determination of the members of the mob to give to their acts u consistent atmosphere olll clalty. Four men entered Frank's room. The noise at the outer door already had awakened the prisoner, but he was still lying in bed when his room was entered by the self-appointed executioners, who wore hats well pulled down to meet the automobile goggles which served the purpose ol masks. "We want you to come with us, ' Frank was told. There was neither surprise nor ter? ror In the look he turned upon the four determined men. In silence Frank arose and made as if to dress ilmself. He was still feeble from the . oss of blood suffered in the Creen ittaqk and swayed perhaps a little Jizily. "Don't bother with the clothes; come just as you are," he was com? manded. Unresistingly and without appeal ol irty sort for protection, Frank per? mitted himself to be handcuffed. Clad only In a sleeping garment he walked nto the prison corridor, a member of he mob on either side of him and wo bringing up the rear. The night o .vas one of the warmest of the sum? mer. When the party had reached tht ?rlson porch the leaders thought tht rogress being made was entirely to< ;low. It was then Frank was picked ip and carried down the concrete teps of the prison house. It is strcn tously denied that Frank was drag ,od "or bumped" down the steps am t Is also denied that one of the mem ers of the party helped carry him >y the hair. In substantiation of thb t Is pointed out that when Frank's ody fcui out down the only mark on I 1 w.'ts a slight abrasion ?f the right} rm above the elbOW, This, it J ? ealdj was caused either by striking ha arm against the narrow door oi | he automobile as he was lifted intc he machine at Milledgeville or it ma> iave been due to swaying against tht runk of the oak tree as Frank wni elng lifted to his death. The ghastly scarred wound It 'rank's thrwit was not opened unti. he weight of his body had beei hrown against the expertly tied hang nan's knot placed beneath the righ. >oint of the chin. There apparently was no doubt ii Frank's mind ns to the meaning o. ais abduction as he was lifted lnt< me of the machines waiting outside he prison farm. Ho had been full) iware of the threats that had been made against him and of the holditu n readiness of the militia several .veeks ago when there Is every reasor 0 believe the soculled "execution" irst was planned. Two men climbed Into the back lOht Of the car In which Frank had >een placed, one sitting on either ude. Another was seated beside the chauffeur. There were seven cars in Milledgeville at this time. Only four got back to Marlett, the oth? er three being left behind at Little river as a rear guard. These wert he cars which successfully baffled those who first started in pursuit of the lynching party. For seven long, momentous hours. Frank sat in the automobile which was carrying him to a death place of which he had no knowledge. It re? quired this length of time to make the journey from Milledgeville to Marietta. The roads were often rough and bumpy but the party maintained a speed of about ?0 miles an hour. There was but one delay, a puncture which was suc? cessfully mended. Frank s hat less, white clad tigure erect in the tonneau of the leading car was in striking contrast to the 1 somber hued men beside him. Al? though the roads were black and lonely the glaring electric headlights of the cars following kept the first ear brilliantly Illumine ted. The high? ways were deserted, however, and the fsrm houses which were passed Were mete shadows darkened as they were for the slumber hOUra There were no passersby to witness the strange and tragic procession that sued Steadily along in a race with the coining of the dawn. During all this long journey only two syllables left Frank's lips, What his thoughts were can never he known. The men who had de? termined that he should die b it him alone with his mediations. Soon after he had been placed In the automobile, Frank was told he was being taken to his place of ex? ecution. "The courts of Georgia have sen? tenced you to be hanged and they never reversed that sentence. It has devolved upon us to carry out their decree." Frank did not flinch. The won? derful stoicism which had marked his long confinement in prison and with which he had met all the re? verses which fed lowed his many legal attempts for liberty did not dosert him in the last hours of his life. It was well after the determination of his captors had been disclosed to him before Frank was asked the question: "Is there anything you would like Lo say before your execution " ?t first there was no reply. Then slowly and perhaps painfully the re? cently wounded man shook his head. "No." The monosyllabic negative was scarcely audible above the throb of the racing engines. For a long time following this the only sound was that of the plunging automobiles. Frank was again per? mitted the seclusion of his thoughts. Then he was asked if he had killed :he Phagan girl, and the captors say he made no reply. This question was not repeated until near the journey s end and again it is said there was no reply. The linal interrogation was: "Is there nothing you wish to say?" "No." These four questions were the sole ;onversatlon in the death car as it med along the nriles which were ?teadily bringing Frank nearer to ?Jobb county and to his death. As day? light approached the speed of the cars Irew up just below the gin house on he William Frey place and stopped it the edge of an oak thicket. The door of the leading car was jpened and Frank was told to step >ut. He arose with the knowledge chat death wab near at hand, but did 10t falter. The big tree which so soon .vas to be his scaffold loomed large ibove the other oaks in the thicket ?ut Frank either did not see or at ach any importance to it at tirst. He valked with firm steps between two if his captors, his eyes upon thv round. , It was while the silent procession >as progressing thus that suddenly ?"rank spoke. ' I love my tvifp and mother mor< ban 1 do my life." The wmds were uttered more to leetf than f *t any dramatic effect ipon lus hearers. I .at evidently Fram tad been pondering that last ques ion as to whether or not he had ught to say and this was his answer. A few moments later the noose had >een placed about the tender neck ind throat, a handkerchief had beet ied loosely about his eyes, there wa: i pull, a tautening of hempen roja ind Frank's life fast wus ebbing iway. It was half an hour after the mol ad completed its work that the dang? ing body was found, still warm. Meteoric Hock Falls. John B. Smoak, of the Shlloh sec ion, was in Walterboro recently ami nought with him a piece of rock vhich fell in his field near where his hildren were at work about four .veeks ago. This rock is of a kind ol sandstone formation and was covered vith soot when it fell. Just before he rock Cell there was a buzzing ipund as of an airship, which was leard by people for miles around. This was followed by the sound of an explosion, and instantly almost thi> rock struck the earth, burying itself tbout two inches. This was possibly .he explosion of a meteor.?Walter >oro Press and Standard. eTRAIG HTFORWAIt 1> TESTIMOXY. Many sum tor Cltftscsie Have Profited Py It. if you have backache, urinary troubles, days of dizziness, headaches or nervousness, strike at the seat of the trouble. These are often the symptoms of weak kidneys and there :s grave danger in delay. Doan'S Kid -icy Pills are especially prepared for kidney ailments?are endorsed by ov? er 30,000 people. Your neighbors rec- j ommend this remedy?have proved its merit In many tests. Sumter readers should take fresh courage in the straightforward testimony of a Sum? ter citizen. j Mrs. j. a. Epperson, 14 Lcvl St.. ISumter, says: "My back ached and I Isuffered from pains through my loins. Mornings 1 was soro and lame and tired easily. My head achet And I was very dizzy. My ankles became swollen and l had other signs of kid? ney trouble. Heading about Doan'e Kidney Pills I got some at Blbert's Drug Store. 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