The governor of Georgia, Allan D. Candler, issued a statement calling the murder of Alfred Cranford "the most diabolical in the annals of crime" and blamed the entire black community of Georgia. Candler complained the younger generation of blacks had not been so "lucky" to have experienced slavery while the older generation of blacks had failed to pass on the right values. Without presenting any proof, Candler argued the entire black community were responsible for Hose's actions and accused black citizens of hiding and sheltering him during the manhunt. Candler ended his statement by saying that it was "deplorable" that the blacks had protested the lynching of Hose.