Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-09-21

ALlauLd, lid sept ~ IS l"NC VI
DR. w J McNaughton, condemned to
be hanged for murder, is now in the
hands of Governor John NJ. Slaton.
The exciting and hard fought legal bat
tie for and against a pardon for the
condemned man is ended, and wholly
and entirely with Georgias chief exec
utive is left the decision as to wheth
er McNaughton will be freed, or the
decree of the courts carried out in his
execution.
The taking of testimony occupied all
of Friday and the proceedings ex-
tended well into the night Today
both sides to the controversy await
with interest Gov. Slaton's decision.
Attorneys A. L. Franklin, of Au-
gusta, F. H. Saffold, of Swainsboro,
and John w. Bennett, of Waycross, ap-
peared for McNaughton, and each o.
them made speeches in his behalf At
torney A S. Bradley, of Swainsboro
and Solicitor General R. L. Moore
came to protest against executive
clemency, while several citizens from
Emanuel county, publicly expressed
their belief that the verdict should BE-
allowed to stand.
Afidavits were presented in behalf
Of McNaughton to the effect that Fred
Flanders, the man he is charged with
having poisoned, was in the habit Of
taking medicine while in Thomasville.
Counter affidavits were submitted by
he prosecution to the effect that Elan
ders was not in brownsville at the
time indicated in the affidavits. The
prosecution also submitted affidavits to
show that Dr. Green Bell, uncle OF
Mrs. Flanders, suspected that Elan
ders had been poisoned and said so
before Flanders died. Dr.. Bell died
before the case was tried, and his
direct testimony was unobtainable bur
according to R. A. Flanders, DR.. Bell
after visiting Flanders shortly before
he died, remarked:
They have poisoned him just as 7
suspected, but he'll get we'll now.
They'll be afraid to finish him"
After Fred Flanders death DR.. Bell
advised his relatives to have post
norton examination made.
j. F. Price farmer and naval stores
operator of Swainsboro, said he at
tended the trial of Dr. McNaughtor
! and never heard more convincing evil
dence in his life. He expressed strong
belief in the guilt both of McNaugh-
ton and Mrs. Flanders. He declared
il the recommendation by the Prisoo
Commission in the first place and lei
stand. the state would have no use
for courts, that the evidence might
lust as well be put before the Prison
Commission in he first place and lei
it decide
IF such criminals as this are to be
turned loose on the community" he
declared, 1T would create lynch law
and anarchy"
S. S. Moore, farmer and sawmill man
OF Emanuel made statement backing
up what Price had said. When he saii
DR.. Bell had told him it looked as ii
Flanders had been poisoned Gov. Sla-
ton asked:
Then why didn't DR.. Bell take steps
to stop it?"
Moore explained that Or. -ell was a
very conservative man and did not
make the statement that McNaughton
had poisoned Flanders. He admitted
that DR.. Bell might have told him that
Flanders had uroamic poisoning.
w. R. Kemp, of Emanuel who has
been several times a state senator and
representative opposed clemency He
said there had been much feeling
against McNaughton and Mrs. Fland-
ers on account of their alleged i'm.
proper relations.
How was it that MIR. Flanders WAS
in ignorance Of this state Of affairs p
/ Gov Slaton asked.
] ID FLANDERS q cO1sip of tho dna 4