680 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

648 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

No, he makes the woman do all the dirty work—while he oveu-
pies the proud position of a friend of her husband’s, Cook
and Mrs. Hirsch had made all arrangements. Cook wanted
them to “get her out of town,’’ did he? Cook would surely
have joined her later. Suppose she had gotten as much as
$100,000 What a time they would have had! And, poor
Hirsch. What a footmat they have made of him. Then Cook
would have denied ever knowing Mrs. Hirsch, if it hadn’t
been for Al Martin’s visit to the jail. When Martin recog-
nized Mrs, Hirsch as the woman whe had accompanied Cook
to his cafe, the story had to be changed, 20 Cook admitted his
previous acquaintanceship with Mrs. Hirseh. And he elaims
to be a friend of Hirsch’s. Poor Hirsch. What can not we
expect husbands to be called upon to stand if this thing is
overlooked? Cook, the saintly friend of the husband. I dare
state right here, gentlemen, that he was a mach closer friend
of Mrs, Hirsch than he was of Mr. Hirsch. Cook was a casual
friend, was he? Daily visits to the hospital look like it, don't
they? A husband could not have done more.

Mr. Candler is deserving of the thanks of the community
for having the bravery to prosecute this case openly and
without fear. Many a man, no matter how innocent, would
have paid the price the blackmailer demanded. Blackmail,
morally, is worse than burglary. It is a shame that the laws
of Georgia make the penalty so light. They treat it as the
smallest of crimes and yet it is the meanest, dirtiest crime I
know of. Then look at the remarkable coincidences in the
statement of the defendant. He just happened to pass and
overheard the conversation. Remarkable coincidence. She
walked out from Thrower’s office. Another coincidence.
They have the same lawyers. Another remarkable coinci-
dence, Gentlemen, this igs a cruel case. It ia eruel on the
poor husband and cruel on Mr. Candler. It is eruel to see
the poor woman used as a tool by a man like Cook. A man
who admits that he has committed every crime on the eal-
endar except murder, and if abortion is murder he has com-
mitted that.