Leo Frank
Leo Frank was held in a Georgia jail in 1915 after Governor Slaton commuted his sentence. A mob stormed the jail, took him and lynched him. The Atlanta Journal, as reprinted in the Watauga Democrat in 1923, reported that a sworn statement made public that year supports his innocence and that the governor and a prison committee chairman had known of it earlier. His mother said she had always known he would be vindicated and that she thinks of and prays for him every day.
Cause of death, as reported: Taken from custody and lynched (disputed). The Atlanta Journal, as reprinted in the Watauga Democrat, says a mob stormed the jail and lynched him after his sentence was commuted, and a 1923 reprint says a sworn statement supporting his innocence was made public that year.
Reported by: Atlanta Journal, as reprinted in the Watauga Democrat (reporters).