Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-20
MIDNIGHT
SESSION
HE[ION
PARDON
SIaton Cross-Examines Lawyers
and 0thers-Decision Is Not
Expected Till Next Week,

The closing chapter in one OF the
most remarka BILE fights for man 5
life in the history of Georgia was at
hand Saturday when Governor John
NJ. Slaton began the final wsighing Of
the arguments and evidence that had
been presented to him for and
against the pardon of Dr. w. ]. Nc
Nsughton, convicted of the staying Of
Fred Flanders in Swainsboro, Ga.
With the prisoner branded on the
one hand as the most cunning of poi
soners and on the other as the vic
tim Of an astounding conspiracy and
misdirected public wrath, the Gov
error faced an. exceedingly hard prob
ism, and thSve is little likelihood that
a decision will be made before next
week
1t was 80 a. m. Saturday when
Judge Frank H. Saffold concluded his
argument for the physician. The
night session was held at he request
of Judge Saffold, who desired to leave
for Savannah at 1915 o'clock. In the
earrestness of his pleading for ex-
ecutive clemency, h5weyer. he failed
to recognize the flight of time and
spoke for fifteen minutes beyond the
time his train was due to leave.
SIaton Quizzes Lawyers.
Governor Slaton Cancelled an en-
gagement to deliver an address at the
Auditorium to hold the night session.
The afternoon session lasted unal
5:45 ouluck, when a recess was taken
until I o'clock.
Solicitor General r. Lee Moore and
A. S. Bradley made the arguments so-
the State, while Colonel ]. w. Bennett
and Judge Saffold made the plea tof
the applicant Governor Slaton in
terrupted at frequent intervals to ask
questions, quizzing all of the lawyers
and the Emanuel County residents
who had come to Atlanta TO protest
against the issuance of pardon.
Particularly pointed were his ques-
tions on the effect Of the arsenic poi-
soning alleged to have been given
Fred Flanders and as to how long
traces of the drug you'd appear in a
human bcdy. The fact that Flanders
died in CONFUSION, which wts
brought out for the first time in the
hearing before the Gov ~rnor, was aisJ
iwelt upon by him,
DIR. W. ]. Bell. d local physician,
was questioned closely as to the Ell
fects of arsenic poisoning. He was
summoned by Judge Saffold. He said
nat the amount of poison in man )
body could not be judged by the
amount found in the stomach, and tile
intestines would naturally disclose
more of it than the skin and other
tissues.
Questions Bell Closely.
ut all depends upon the condition
of a mans body as TO how soon he
will throw off poison; there is no
fixed rule, and an expert would have
to be absolutely familiar with every
detail of the patients condition to Oe
able to tell how long ne had contained
the poison" said DR.. Bell.
Governor Slaton questioned DR.. Bel
closely. The Governors opinion WAS
tnat had Flanders taken the drug
when he was in Thomasyille in April
and May it would have been thrown
off bv his body before the time of his
death.
Bradley's argument was along the
line that the defense had failed IL
terlv to show that Fred Flanders was
addicted to the use of drugs or that
he had taken patent medicines in any
amount.
Until he was taken sick on the
night of May Il preceding his death
June 4 he was perfectly well man.
He had entirely recovered from his
Continued on Page 2, Column 7.