Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28

lows by action just in the nick Of
time, twice by appeals to higher
courts. and twice by reprieve Of Gov
ernor Brown, who was Of the opinion
that Mrs Flanders should have been
tried before the sentence Of death
was executed on DIR. McNaughton.
The case has been tensely dramatic
from the first
Flanders Sought Home.
DIR. McNaughton had been practi-
cling medicine in Emanuel County
about ten years before the death Of
Fred Flanders. He came to Georgia
from North Carolina and became
known through the Southeast Georgia
section.
Dr. McNaughton made many
friends, and some enemies, being a
man of firm convictions and an arbi-
trary manner Of expressing them.
Several months before the death Of
Flanders DR.. McNaughton's wife died,
and he sent his two young sons to
North Carolina to live with "A rela-
tive. He was about to move out Of
his big house in Covena, a village
several miles from Swainsboro, when
his friend and patient, Fred Flanders,
asked for quarters for himself and
his wife An agreement was reached.
Flanders and his wife would live in
the physicians house, and the doctor
would take his meals with the Elan
ders.
on the night of May II Flanders
b came III and remained in the house
until the day Of his death, June A..
| DIR. McNaughton was his physician,
| attending him through all the Ill
ness and supplying him with medi-
cine from his own shop DIR. Green
| Bell, a relative Of Mrs Flanders, was
| in to see the sick man once or twice
| before his death, and the defense con-
! tends that DR. Bell Endorsed the treat
ment rendered by Dr. McNaughton.
| But soon after the death of Elan
ders Dr. Bell died suddenly before
| the case was called.
| Immediately after the death OF
| Flanders gossip. which had been
| linking the names of the physician
and Mrs. Flanders, was renewed. The
| two were seen together in SWANS
| boro, and they went to the Ordinary's
office together to arrange matters of
the estate. 1t was said they were in
high spirits.
Flanders Family Prominent.
! The Flanders family is prominent
and powerful and closely knit. They
were aroused by the suggestions that
| came to them, and decided to have
| the body of their kinsman eXhumed.
| An investigation revealed the traces
| of arsenic, a warrant was sworn out
| for the arrest of the man and the
woman, and an Indictment was found
| Immediately. Within little more than
a month after the death of Fred
| Flanders, DIR. McNaughton was sem
! fenced to be hanged
| A motion for a new trial was made
and lost Then followed an appeal to
| the State Supreme Court, which was
| lost The defense, fighting doggedly,
took an appeal to sthe United States
| Supreme Court.
| Then new evidence was found, as
| sert the attorneys FOR DIR. McNaugh-
! ton, defense from experts that they
! thought should Justify a new trial
| They withdrew their appeal before
/ the court at Washington, and made
! an extraordinary motion in the
/ Emanuel County court. II was lost.
There was left then only the APP
| peal to Executive Clemency. The ap-
/ peal was made to Governor Brown to
| save McNaughton from the gallows
/ He issued reprieve, declaring that
! he would not allow MCNaughton to
! be hanged until the woman, his al
! lCsed aCcompliCe, We're brought to
/ trial. Twice he reprieved the ply
stefan, and it was on his last re-