The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-18
DAILY, so A YEAR.
CENTS A COPY.
WEEKLY 2-TIMES-A-WEEK 81 A YEAR
FLANAGAN'S FOES FURIOUS.
AN ATTEMPT MADE TO LYNCH HIM
AT DEFxALB.

The Mob Held at Bay by the sherIfE
ana His Deputies with Drawn Re-
vOIVers-The Mob Afraid the Pris-
Oner VIII he Saved From the Gib-
bet on the Plea of Insnnity-Mlli-
tary May BE Ordered Out TO Protect
Him During the Proceedings To-
day.
ATLANTA, Ca, Feb. ia mob made %
rush for Edward c. Flanagan at the rail-
road station at Decatur tonight after
the trial. Sheriff Austin had started to
bring his prisoner into Atlanta, fearing
TO keep him in the DeKalb county jail.
For three days there has been talk OF
lynching Flanagan. and this morning his
counsel, W. c. Glenn, asked for a mis-
trial, stating that it was impossible to
get fair trial on account of public SEN
timent
Judge Gambler refused the request ana
stated that he and the sheriffs would pro-
tect the prisoner. The judge did not think
there was a disposition to lynch Flana-
gan
The people Of DeKalb however, are M
dignant at the prospect of Flanagan es-
Gaping the gallows on the plea of insan-
ity. All day there were mutterings I'M
and around the court, and when the sher-
III left the building he was followed by
fifty men. He found as many more aa
the depot
The sheriff was not unprepared, how
ever, and when the crowd began to move
in on him he and his deputies surrounded
their prisoner and with drawn pistols,
threatened to shoot whoever attempted
10 lay hands on Flanagan. The show OF
resistance cowed the mob and the sheriff
stepped on the train in few minutes and
brought his man to Atlanta for the night.
Nearly all the evidence to-day was de-
voted to an explanation on certain phases
| Of insanity. DR.. Pinckney stated that he
believed from an examination of Flana-
| gan that he is insane and not mentally ne
| to be tried for murder. The physician de-
| clared, that In his opinion Flanagan could
| not give his counsei any assistance in the
| trial.
DR. Bizzell gave similar testimony. He
! too. had examined the prisoner and had
| tested him. lie pronounced Flanagan
! hopelessly insane. Flanagan has de-
! lusion. believing that he has enemies, who
are after him and are trying to Kill him
The case viii be resumed tomorrow.
| If Flanagan Is lynched tomorrow or
! during the pendancy of his present trial
upon the insanity issue. the responsible
| ty will be upon the state. This after
noon after the prisoner had been moved
! from the court house and few minutes
| before the attempt to take him away
| from the sheriff and string him up, At
! tOfney Glenn maze mOtlOn TO tne court
to conduct the trial hereafter without the
presence of the prisoner. The present
| proceedings are not In the nature of a
| trial on the issue of murder, but are mere
ly for the purpose of arriving at the mem
| tai responsibility of the prisoner, so that
he may either be placed on trial for his
life or sent to the lunatic asylum. At
torney Glenn argued this view of the case
| both with the court and the attorneys
for the state, but they would not agree
| to proceed tomorrow, except with the
prisoner in attendance, as III the trial was
| regularly one on the issue of murder.
| The prisoners counsel took the position
that it would relieve the excitement sur
rounding the trial and give the prisoner q.
more impartial hearing If he were allowed
| to remain In Fulton county Jail until the
question Of his sanity is settled For his
client, he declared that he would not un-
| dertake to gain any advantage from the
fact of his absence during the remainder
| of the proceedings, and in fact, did not
| want him present for any purpose what
ever. The state refused to agree 20 the
proposition, however, and tomorrow the
militia will, in all probability. have to be
| ordered out to protect the prisoner.