Which governor of Georgia determined that Leo Frank was innocent?

John Slaton, the governor of Georgia at the time, took a stand on the controversial case of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager convicted of murdering a 13-year-old girl in 1913. After reviewing the evidence and public sentiment surrounding the case, Slaton became convinced of Frank's innocence. He believed that the trial had been gravely flawed, and the evidence presented against Frank was insufficient to warrant his conviction.

In 1915, after careful consideration, Slaton commuted Frank's death sentence to life imprisonment, effectively recognizing the issues in the judicial process and the racial and anti-Semitic tensions influencing the case. This decision sparked significant backlash and further controversy, as it highlighted profound societal divides in Georgia at the time. Ultimately, the case of Leo Frank remains a notable example of the intersection of justice, prejudice, and the legal system in early 20th-century America. Slaton's actions were pivotal in questioning the fairness of the judicial process in Georgia and the treatment of minorities within that system.