The People v. Leo Frank was shot on location in Atlanta. In the early 20th century Atlanta was a thriving community. It was a jewel in the new south. What happened there was something horrendous for not only the city but for the country as well.
Mary Phagan was a 13 year old girl, one of the many child laborers in the pencil factory in Atlanta, and other businesses around the country. These young people worked to contribute money to their families and to gain some independence. Their wages were meager, but at least they were making some money.
Leo Frank, a supervisor at the pencil factory, was accused of killing Mary Phagan when her body was discovered in the basement of the building. The first suspect was the night watchman, a black man, but his alibi stood up. Leo Frank, a Jewish man from New York, was then considered the prime suspect, although another black man, Jim Conley, was also arrested for abetting Frank after the murder.
Anti-Semitism Ignites in Atlanta
At this time in history, Jewish people held prominent positions in Atlanta society. They blended in with the culture. But the new wave of Jewish immigrants brought their old ways with them and alienated many of the citizens. Anti-Semitism was growing, and Leo Frank was caught in the middle.
This mild-mannered man, although he did have his quirks, was tried and convicted, all the while pleading his innocence. The city was excited about the verdict and celebrated the fact that Leo Frank would soon be put to death.
After a meeting with the attorneys, the judge himself admitted that he was not convinced of Frank’s guilt, but he could not do anything about it since the jury had spoken.
This case brought about a rush of articles around the country, some in favor of the verdict, others pleading anti-Semitism and calling Atlanta out on the city’s jubilation. The people of Atlanta grew angry that the rest of the country was sitting in judgment of them.
A Miscarriage of Justice
The attorney who had represented Jim Conley was among those who thought there was a miscarriage of justice. After reviewing the evidence, he concluded that his client was the one responsible for Mary Phagan’s murder. He openly stated the facts however a mistrial was not called.
Governor John Slaton realized that Leo Frank had not been given a fair trial and commuted his sentence from death to life in prison. This further enraged the community.
The people took it upon themselves to carry out what they thought was justice. They went to the prison, carried out Leo Frank, and lynched the man. This group consisted of a judge and a former governor. These men were respected citizens, but they were never charged with any crime.
After Leo Frank was hanged, his lifeless body became a viewing event for all the people who had turned their hatred of this man into full-blown anti-Semitism.
Hatred Grows Out of Control
The lynch mob soon joined together into what is the modern Ku Klux Klan. The original KKK had targeted black people. The modern KKK now added Jews and Catholics to their list.
This docudrama is enlightening. Many sequences were taken verbatim from actual documents. It shows how hatred is sparked then can grow into something out of control.
The People v. Leo Frank premiers Monday, November 2, 2009 at 10 PM ET on PBS.
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