The Leo Frank Lynching

Written by Jakob Surber

Background: J.tel teens gathered on a sidewalk to hear our tourguide, Billy Planer, explain the story of Leo Frank. We stood in the very spot where Mary Phagan was found murdered. Phagan's murder led to an accusation of a business owner named Leo Frank. Frank was innocent. He was found guilty and eventualy lynched by a group of prominent people from Marietta. Frank's death turned the spotlight on to anti-semitism in the United States.

I found it kind of creepy that we were standing on the burial ground/death site of Mary Phagan. It was very interesting that Leo Frank was completely innocent, but no one bothered listening to the facts. The police took the word of a black janitor over Mr. Frank, a white business owner. This was very rare for the time period. This also makes this case unique.

Eventually, Mr. Frank was taken by the KKK who planned to lynch him. We learned that lynchings become public gatherings. This makes me sad. People even made postcards from lynchings to send to other people! It's very inhumane if you ask me. It was almost as if people celebrated and enjoyed a hanging/lynching. Leo Frank's death became a social gathering. And again I restate, very inhumane.