Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-24
SURPRISE IN NEW
EVIDENCE FOR
NJ NAUGHTON
Insurance Physician, Now Dead,
Made Affidavit Flanders Died
From Natural Cause.

New and startling evidence favor
2 ing the defense is claimed to have
been discovered by Judge F. H. SAT-
( fold, counsel for DR.. W. ]. McNaugh-
ton. convicted OF the murder of Fred
Flanders, and whose life hinges upon
executive Clemency. 1t is an affidavit
made by DR.. Green Bell to the Mutual
Life Insurance Company that Elan
diers died of uremic poisoning.
DR.. Bell died between the time Of
Flanders death and the first trial of
McNaughton. Afidavits made by
relatives and friends of Flanders and
presented to Governor Slaton last
week were regarded as extremely dam
aging to McNaUghton. The affidavits
charged that DR.. Bell had remarked
that Flanders was poisoned. Two Of
the men making the afldavits admit
ted to the Governor that DR.. Bell did
not state what kind Of poison caused
Flanders death.
Defense Lawyers Surprised.
The filing of these aff1davits proved
q complete surprise to Judge Saffold
and Attorney J. W Bennett, lawyers
for McNaughton. Immediately after
leaving Atlanta they began an inves-
sigation in Emanuel County to flnd Il
DR. Bell had ever given any reason
for Flanders death. They obtained
the information that ne had made an
affidavit to the insurance company
carrying policy on Flanders life
that he died Of uremic poisoning This
affidavit is on file at the home office
of the Mutual company, and the at
torneys have made request for 1t so
. that It may be shown to the Govern IT.
From questions asked by Governor
Slaton in the hearing last week he
was undoubtedly impressed by the re-
marks credited to DR.. Bell. One wit
ness, r. a. Flanders, swore that DR.
Bell made the plain statement to him
that Fred Flanders was being pol
sOned and that ne had told them (Dr.
McNaughton and Mrs. Flanders) that
they had better get him in good con-
dition" and "he will be better now"
In his cell in the Chatham County
Jail McNaughton presents the same
haggard appearance he did Monday,
when he broke down under the stra'p
He continues to express his belief
that he will be a free man in few
days
Evidence Not Before Governor,
out at his country home Governor
SIaton is carefully reviewing the case,
and II ne has yet made a decision no
one knows It but himself. While his
questions in the hearing indicated
strongly that he believed In Nc
NaughtOn's guilt, MCNaughton's law
yers insist that the questions dis
played fair mindedness on the part
Of the Governor very evident de-
sire to learn as much as possible OF
every angle Of the case.
ut IS this fair mtndedness Of Gov
ernor Slaton which we expect to re-
suit in his granting a pardon to DR..
McNaughton," said Judge Saffold.
The discovery Of the affidavit Of Dr..
Bell has not yet been conveyed to the
Governor but a communication from
the attorneys for the defense is eX-
pected to reach him Tuesday regard
ing II.
Attorney Saffold declared Tuesday
that part Of the death certificates
showing Fred Flanders died of urae-
mic poison has been mysteriously de-
stroyed from the records Of the Mu-
tual Life Insurance Company. Gov
ernor Slaton has been mailed the files
of the company to show the destruc-
ton of the evidence.