Atlanta Georgian., 1913-09-19
FIGHT
IS URGED
AGAINST
PARDON
Three Affidavits Shown Governor,
Charging Flanders Doctor
Said Patient Was Poisoned,

Three startling affidavits were in
troduced by the State Friday morn
ing when the last fight against the
recommendation for a fun pardon by
the Prison Commission for DR.. w. J.
McNaughton the Emanual County
physician sentenced to hang on Octo-
Der 3 for the poisoning of Fred FIan-
ders. was made before Governor SIa-
ton.
The amdavits In each instance
stated that Or. Green Bell. the physi-
clan who attended Flanders during
his fatal sickness, and who died tje-
fore McNaughton first trial, stated
that Flanders had been poisoned by
his wife and the physician. In one
affidavit DR. Bell was quoted as say
ing when he returned from a visit
10 the patient,
Say Doctor Warned Pair.
They have poisoned him, Just as
have expected. but he viii get well
now. I told them they had better
straighten him out or they would get
into trouble. He will get well now
and they will be afraid TO finish him."
This extract was taken from the
affidavit Of r. a. Flanders. a first
cousin Of the dead man. Flanders
swore that he had talked to Or. Bell
upon his return from Covena to
Swainsboro, where he administered
to the sick man.
In another affidavit George L. Price,
Of Sharpespur, Ca. swore that Dr.
Bell had expressed to him the belies
that Flanders had been poisoned:
Il would hate to take that mans
medicine" Dr. Bell is quoted by Price
as saying.
Third Also Charges Poison.
In the third affidavit d. L. Smith,
Of Swainsboro, quoted DR.. Bell Is say
ing. He is sick--a mighty sick man.
He is poisoned
Say He Was Drug Victim.
These attidavits were introduced by
the State in rebuttaI Of the testimony
given by witnesses for McNaughton,
who declared at the trial that DR.. Bell
before he died, had said that Flan-
ders' death was from natural causes.
The defense introduced the affida-
Wits of A. j. Stanaland, County Sur
veyor Of Thomas County and c. A.
Hancock. a clothler. Of Thomasville,
which were presented before the
Prison Commission to show that Flan-
ders had taken great quantities of
drugs while in Thomasville, and had
made the remark: "This Is going 10
kill me some day"
Arguments were begun before the
close of the morning session.
Political Plot Is Charged.
Charges that McNaughton's life is
being sought to further political as
pirations were made Wednesday be.
fore the hearing opened. The accusa-
tions were hurled at r. Lee Moore,
Solicitor General Of the circuit in
which Dr. McNaughton was tried. by
the Rev. John S. Widen the physi-
clans former pastor, who arrived in
Atlanta 10 attend the hearing. DIR.
Wilder's statement followed one made
by Solicitor Moore, in which he de-
cIared he believed McNaughton should
hang for Flanders death
Lee Moore is just playing poli-
tics said the clergyman. IF ne says
that DR.. McNaughton ought TO hang.
he is either lying or has changed his
mind nightly since political friends
of Fred Flanders met at Swainsboro.
He told me out Of his own mouth
that he didn't think DR.. MCNaughton
ought to hang and if he says differ
ent to-day ! will be forced to brand
it as a misstatement He is playing
politics and is apparently none too
good to iuggle with an innocent mans
life 20 carry his point I will have a
few things to tell Governor Slaton
myself and I am not so sure thas
Moore viii want To talk when our side
finishes the presentation Of its case