Postcard of Leo Frank lynching, Marietta, Cobb County, Georgia/ 
 Vanishing Georgia, Georgia Archives, Morrow, Georgia.
104 years ago today. Leo Frank was murdered. Here recounted the next day by the mob that kidnapped him from the State Farm prison in Milledgeville and then lynched him in Marietta as thousands reportedly gathered to watch while Fiddlin’ John Carson entertained the crowds (see clip 4). Those following me here regularly know the Leo Frank case is often on my mind in connection with Stone Mountain’s history and Georgia history in general. It's a true crime tale with two murder victims that's chockful of tributaries into politics, labor history, white supremacy and anit-Semitism—and so much more, that it still weighs heavily upon Atlanta's conscience. Those most familiar with Stone Mountain's complicated history will recall that Mary Phagan's "avengers," dubbing themselves the Knights of Mary Phagan as they lynched Leo Frank, would but two months later anoint themselves as the Second Era Klan on top of Stone Mountain. Earlier this year I was glad to hear that the Fulton County DA's new Conviction Integrity Unit is reexamining the case and looks to exonerate Leo Frank in the 1913 murder of Mary Phagan as early as next year.
"Mob's Own Story In Detail" | August 18, 1915
Leo Frank's Prison Cot Marked by an X at the State Farm in Milledgeville/ : Library of Congress
