Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-05
IN THE
FLANDERS CASE,
SAYS SLATON
New Governor Declares He Will
Take Action After Hearing
All Sides.

Governor Slaton has formed no
opinion in the famous McNaughton-
Matte Flanders murder case. and
says he will make no decision until
ne has heard all sides. The new
Governor says he has not talked to
the former Governor about the case
He viii hear. he said, all arguments
without prejudice.
II is known that the hopes Of Nc
Naughton's friends for Communication
Of sentence, if not pardon, have been
greatly strengthened now that Gov
ernor Slaton is in the executive Of
fee.
The statement, made time and
again. to the effect that Mrs. Matte
Flanders, alleged co-conspirator with
DR.. w. J. McNaughton, never will be
tried, has been renewed now that
Governor Brown, who stood so long
between DR.. McNaughton and the
gallows, has been succeeded
1t was said months ago to be the
purpose Of those urging that the law
be permitted to take it's course
against DIR. McNaughton to kick the
case along from one court 10 another
until a change in administrations had
been effected in Atlanta. Governor
Brown let it be known all along that
he would not permit DIR. McNaugh-
ton to hang so long as the case
against Mrs. Flanders remained I'M
disposed of.
Waiting Game Played.
The case against Mrs. Flanders was
passed along from one court to an
other until last March Governor
Brown respited the doctor to Septem-
Der 5. which sets the date Of his exc
Cution well into Governor Slatons
term. Had the case against Mrs.
Flanders been nol-prossed in Gov
ernor Browns term of office there is
little, If any, doubt that DR.. Nc
Naughton's sentence of death would
have been promptly commuted to life
Imprisonment or less. even if he was
rot pardoned outright. Governor
evident disinclination of the State to
push the case against Mrs. Flanders
as a circumstance in DR.. McNaugh
toms favor but whether Governor
Slaton will take that view of II is
problematicai
II will be contended that the State
dare not try the case against Mrs.
Flanders for fear O Thereby acquit-
ting Her alleged accomplish, DR.. Nc
Naughton. It is freely admitted that
all hope of convicting Mrs. Flanders
in Emanuel County has been aban-
doned. Partisans of DR. MCNaughton
contend that if she is not guilty, the
doctor can not possibly be guilty.
They hold that Mrs. Flanders CO.
operation in the killing of Fred Elan
ders. her husband, was necessarily
essential to the conviction of DR.. Nc
NauEhton.
State Charged Conspiracy.
The States original theory of the
killing Of Fred Flanders was that his
murder was effected through crimi-
nal conspiracy between DIR. Nc
Naughton and Flanders wife. the mo-
tive being to secure the life insur
anCe of Flanders, and to promote an
alleged too ardent intimacy between
Mrs. Flanders and McNaughton.
MCNaughton's attorneys hold that
| If Mrs. Flanders is not guilty 70 her
| part of the original allegations, DR..
! McNaughton can not be, and this is
! the point Of view that will be urged
| upon the new Executive.
Those who have studied this case
are generally firm in the belief that
/ MCNauEhton never will hang. if the
case against Mrs. Flanders is
dropped.
Public With McNaughton.
Public opinion, which originally was
very strong against DIR. MCNaugh-
/ ton. is said to have swung around
very much in his favor of late and
his attorneys now, contend that he
would be freed of all charges, If he
might be tried again in Emanuel
County. They say that opinion is
heavily favorable to him now.
He has been in prison more than
two years, awaiting the disposition
of the case against his alleged CO.
conspirator. and has been respited
half a dozen times pending her trial