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| 2008 5/29/08- Francke case puts Kroger to the test - By Phil Stanford When Oregon’s next attorney general, John Kroger, takes office a few months from now, he’ll soon be presented with a chance to prove he’s as good as a lot of us think he might be. The deeply troubling case of Frank Gable, railroaded in the 1989 murder of Department of Corrections Chief Michael Francke, is about to enter the federal court system on appeal – and when it does, Kroger will have to decide what he’s going to do. 2007 10/12/07- It's up to feds to unravel this mess - By Phil Stanford It is, truly, the murder that won’t die. Or at least it won’t until the state of Oregon finally admits it has the wrong man locked up, serving life without parole for the 1989 murder of Department of Corrections Chief Michael Francke. This week Willamette Week joined the fray with a cover story based on the tale of a convict, Greg Johnson, who says he drove the getaway car that night for a local gangster named Tim Natividad. 2006 8/11/06- When a urinal isn’t just a urinal - By Phil Stanford And finally, how can we ignore this cranky little note from Les Zaitz, The Oregonian reporter most responsible for that newspaper’s public pratfall on the Francke murder case last year? … Zaitz, bless his heart, says he’s read every document on this case (which he doesn’t think we have) – and by golly, Frank Gable is guilty as charged. … As if this were some kind of reading contest. … If Zaitz can come up with a single bit of documentary evidence – either physical evidence or the testimony of a a credible eyewitness, putting Gable at the scene of the crime – he owes it to his newspaper to publish it immediately. … Until then, pal, it’s probably best to put a cork in it. 8/1/06- Some of us haven't forgotten Frank Gable - By phil stanford It’s been a year since this column had it out with The Oregonian over whether Frank Gable, a small-time drug dealer convicted for the 1989 murder of Oregon Corrections Department Director Michael Francke, is actually guilty. 1/20/06- Hold on, now it’s raining jokes - By Phil Stanford Rob Taylor, keeper of the freefrankgable.com Web site, reminds me that I missed the 17th anniversary of Michael Francke’s murder last Tuesday. Of course he didn’t. He was down in Salem with a bullhorn, reminding everyone that an innocent man is serving life without parole for a murder he did not commit. Much has been written about the case, but it comes down to this: Not a shred of physical evidence links Gable to the crime scene and the only “eyewitness” has since recanted. Surely that should count for something when Gable gets a new hearing on his sentence. June 2005 6/28/05- The evidence just isn’t there- By Phil Stanford To put it as bluntly as possible, there never was any credible evidence against Frank Gable. Not so much as a shred of physical evidence linking him to the murder of Oregon Corrections Director Michael Francke on that long ago night of Jan. 17, 1989. Nothing, in fact, tying him to the scene of the crime but the testimony of a single “eyewitness,” who — if Gable’s lawyers had taken the trouble to ask him — couldn’t even explain how he happened to be at the scene of the murder in the first place. By any standards known to this civilization, Frank Gable is not guilty. 6/28/05- 2 say Gable didn’t do it- By Jim Redden Two of the original witnesses against Frank Gable now say they believe another man — Timothy David “Rooster” Natividad — actually killed Oregon Corrections Director Michael Francke. 6/21/05- By Phil Stanford Don’t tell me folks out there aren’t interested in the 16-year-old Francke murder case. In the two days following the Trib’s blockbuster interview with the state’s “eyewitness,” Cappie “Shorty” Harden, a Web site mentioned in the story, www.freefrankgable. com, got 15,972 hits. … Now there’s a story for you: Ex-con webmaster Rob Taylor, who set up the groundbreaking interview, may have made a wrong turn along the way — but he’s on the right path now. His dad, a former Madras chief of police, couldn’t be prouder. 6/17/05- Official: ’86 probe ended in a ‘deal’- By Jim Redden Shortly after Oregon Corrections Department Director Michael Francke was murdered outside his Salem office on Jan. 17, 1989, members of his family charged that he might have been killed by prison employees they allege were corrupt. 6/17/05- Maybe it’s just a matter of time- By Phil Stanford Well, it looks like those wascally wabbits on The O’s crack investigative team have done it again. Why, just this Wednesday — modestly tucked away on Page 5 of their Metro section — they came up with another startling news break in the Francke murder case: Shorty Harden, the state’s one and only “eyewitness,” had recanted. He wasn’t there. So naturally he didn’t see Frank Gable do it. Furthermore, he made up the whole story because the state police threatened him. So much for the case against Gable. You gotta admit, these guys are good. But wait. What’s that you’re telling me? That the story was actually broken the previous day in the Trib by staff writer Jim Redden? 6/14/05- "Eyewitness" Recants- By Jim Redden Shorty Harden, the state's only eyewitness against Frank Gable in the murder of Michael Francke, told Tribune reporter Jim Redden on Sunday that he never saw Gable kill Francke, and that he wasn't even at the dome building the night of the murder. When asked why he lied at the trial he said he was coerced by Oregon State Police officials who threatened him. May 2005 5/24/05- What case rests on a witness like this?- By Phil Stanford As I noted here a week or so ago, the Big O was about to give birth to its long-awaited magnum opus on the Michael Francke murder case. Well, the story’s out now — and guess what? 5/24/05- 10 things you may not have read about Francke case By Jim Redden The Sunday Oregonian published a story that claimed that no evidence exists to support long-standing allegations that Oregon Corrections Director Michael Francke may have been murdered because he was fighting corruption within his department. But it left out facts that reveal that the full story of the slaying has yet to be told. 5/6/05- By Phil Stanford Word is that the Big O is about to come forth with its long-awaited magnum opus on the Michael Francke murder case. … The big question, of course, is whether after all these years they’ll continue to parrot the prosecution’s bogus case against Frank Gable or do a little thinking of their own. … Note to Big O readers: Watch to see how they handle the impossible contradictions in the testimony of the state’s lone “eyewitness,” Shorty Harden, who says he was at the scene because he got a call from Jodie Swearingen. … Problem was, there was no place where Jodie could have made the call. How they handle that will be the tip-off. March 2005 3/18/05- State calls Gable trial a shut case- By Jim Redden The controversial Michael Francke murder case should not be reopened, according to a legal brief filed by the Oregon Department of Justice with the state Court of Appeals. February 2005 2/22/05- By Phil Stanford More news from Frank Gable, who is doing life without parole for a murder he didn’t commit, on the recent visit by two Oregonian reporters: Their big thing, he says, seems to be some notes apparently taken by one of his lawyers — and former wife — Karen Steele, which have him saying something like: “Why don’t I just shock them all and plead guilty.” … Pretty sensational stuff, right? … At least until you realize that Karen was his lawyer, not on the murder case, but on some federal gun charges — to which he did, in fact, later plead guilty. … And further, as Karen would be happy to tell anyone who takes the time to call her, Frank never once even hinted that he was anything but innocent of the murder of Oregon Corrections Director Michael Francke. … Don’t be bashful, guys. Give her a call. January 2005 1/25/05- By Phil Stanford A message arrives from Frank Gable, imprisoned down in Okaloosa, Fla, that two reporters from the Big O just finished interviewing him and everything went well. The two of them were actually quite nice, he says. … About the only thing they couldn’t understand, he says, is how, when the police told him they had a witness who’d seen him running away from the scene where Michael Francke was killed, he blurted out the name Jodie Swearingen. … It’s not that difficult. The cops had been showing him pictures of various Salem underworld characters — including Jodie — and when they popped the question, he blurted out her name, figuring she was the one who’d been feeding them the story. … Really, guys, the main thing to remember is that Jodie says the state police forced her to lie — then she recanted before the trial, declaring that Frank just wasn’t there. … Like the rest of us, Frank is looking forward with great anticipation to whatever the Big O is up to. And by all means, guys, if there's anything else I can do to help, just give a holler. 1/18/05- Letter from another world- By Phil Stanford Phil condenses several letters received from Frank Gable over the past year December 2004 12/24/04- Trial witness admits he didn’t tell truth By Jim Redden One of the major trial witnesses against Frank Gable recanted his testimony a little more than two years after the trial, the Portland Tribune has learned 12/3/04- Phil Stanford Mentions Website! Much Thanks Phil!! By Phil Stanford What’s this? Why, it seems to be a new Web site called www.freefrankgable.com. It's the brainchild of Rob Taylor, a former bakery route driver who believes an injustice has been done and wants to help right it. Good for him. … Any day now, Rob expects to be able to post an original drawing of the olive-skinned man in the pinstriped suit who was spotted in the Dome Building on the night of the Michael Francke murder in 1989. What was he doing there, more than an hour after the building had been locked? Click here for composite November 2004 11/30/04-By Phil Stanford With the Albany Herald now writing about Oregon’s biggest murder case ever, can the Big O be far behind? … And trust me, I’m not suggesting that Oregon’s largest New York-owned daily should in any way compromise its principles to do so. If, after examining the evidence, it finds itself in disagreement with those of us who’ve been making the case that Frank Gable was framed for the 1989 murder of Oregon’s corrections director, then by golly, it should say so. But you think it’d at least say something. … 11/30/04- Gable indictment challenged in 2000- By Jim Redden Ex-state investigator felt man falsely jailed for Francke murder 11/19/04- What they said speaks volumes- By Phil Stanford There’s an old saying about chickens coming home to roost — and if you’ve been reading your Portland Tribune lately, you probably know what I’m referring to. 11/16/04- New reasons for a new trial- By Phil Stanford Phil Stanford's most recent column detailing explosive new revelations and interviews which might be enough to convince the Oregon Appellate Court that Frank Gable deserves a new trial. 11/16/04- Ex-employee supports corruption claims- By Jim Redden Story by Investigative Journalist Jim Redden outlining the Portland Tribune's recent interview with Linda Parker, a former employee of the Utah Department of Corrections, who worked directly under Scott McAlister. October 2004 10/29/04- Francke murder is a real scary tale- By Phil Stanford So you want a Halloween story, do you? Something, if I get your drift, that will raise chill bumps on your arms — but not too much or too many, please, because we all know that such stories are only make-believe after all. 10/5/04- Fancy meeting you here, Neil- By Phil Stanford Neil Goldschmidt goes off on what can best be described as a Francke rant-After complaining of being mentioned in the Portland Tribune so much, he's quoted as saying, “We looked into all that stuff years ago. So did The Oregonian.” Well, no one ever said he didn’t have a lot of nerve. September 2004 9/24/04- Drug kingpin stirs Francke pot- By Phil Stanford If retired Portland gangster Danny Longoria is telling the truth, it’s time to tear up the state’s bungled-car-burglary theory about the Michael Francke murder. 9/24/04- Files: Several Francke plots?- By Jim Redden Police and court records include claims that others wanted prison chief dead 9/21/04- Francke case may hinge on a hair- By Jim Redden DNA testing sought for evidence found on victim’s clothing 9/3/04- Thirteen years later, give the guy a little justice By Phil Stanford Lacking so much as a shred of physical evidence tying Gable to the murder, the state's case rested on the testimony of a single eyewitness, Shorty Harden, plus several other jailbird types who testified that Gable either told them he was going to kill Francke or, after the murder, said that he did it. August 2004 8/31/04- Francke murder no longer so cut and dried By Jim Redden Lawyer challenges verdict in state official’s slaying 8/31/04- After 15 years, where is the man in the pinstriped suit? By Phil Stanford A security guard found Michael Francke at 12:35 a.m on Jan. 18, 1989, lying on the north porch of the Oregon Department of Corrections office building in Salem. Cause of death was a knife wound to the heart. Initial reports said police were looking for a man wearing a light-colored trench coat. 8/27/04- A killing that won’t go away- By Phil Stanford Fifteen years later, the brutal murder of state Corrections Director Michael Francke, stabbed to death outside his Salem office on the night of Jan. 17, 1989, remains deeply unsettling. 8/27/04- Official denies corruption allegations- By Jim Redden Marion County District Attorney Dale Penn adamantly denies that widespread corruption existed within the Oregon Corrections Department when Director Michael Francke was stabbed to death in January 1989. 8/24/04- ’89 memo: ‘Control’ murder probe- By Jim Redden When he was Oregon governor, Neil Goldschmidt may have tried to limit and control investigations into the January 1989 killing of state Corrections Director Michael Francke, according to recently released documents obtained by the Tribune. |
| 12/8/04 Enduring Wounds By Nick Budnick |
| 12/1/04 True Lies? Polygraph expert questions Francke investigation tactics By Nick Budnick |
| 11/24/04 The Murder That Would Not Die By Nick Budnick |
| 11/17/04 Out of the Francke Files By Nick Budnick |
| 9/29/04 The Vanishing Rumor By Nigel Jaquiss |
| All Oregonian articles referring to this case have been archived at their website and require a fee to access now |
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| Portland Confidential: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Rose City By Phil Stanford Order your copy now www,powells.com www.amazon.com |
| The inclusion of a link on this website does not constitute an official endorsement, guarantee, or approval by the Webmaster of that site. FreeFrankGable.com is a sole entity with no affiliations. |
"A Killing That Won't Go Away" Jim Hill - Former Oregon Senator
| "..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.." Samuel Adams |
