This Day in 1913

Mary Phagan was found sexually molested and murdered in an Atlanta pencil factory. Initially a black janitor was accused, but as evidence proved innocence, blame shifted to the owner of the factory, a Jewish man named Leo Frank.
A popular politician, Tom Watson, told the case prosecutor

"Hell, we can lynch a nigger anytime in Georgia, but when do we get the chance to hang a Yankee Jew?"

The trial was was allowed to proceed when proof of innocence was presented to the magistrate. Hysteria prevailed, fueled by bigotry against Jews. Thousands of Jews had to leave the Atlanta during the trial.
Eventually a mob overwhelmed the prison farm where Frank was held, brought him to the Marietta square where he was hanged. The body was allowed to continue hanging from the tree while spectators had their pictures taken in front of the body.
In 1920 Tom Watson was elected the the U.S. Senate.
In 1986 Leo Frank was posthumously pardoned.

We are capable of awful things when ignorance is the motivating force.