Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-24
SAGGUS INNOCENT,
HIS LAWYER SAYS

Declaring that the charges
against DR.. ]. G. Saggus, former
Wilkes county physician, now in
| Jail at Washington, Ga, charged
! with murder of his first wife and the
former husband of his present wife
will collapse when a report is sub,
mitted on the chemical analysis of
the viscera taken from the remains
| of the dead persons, r. G. Norman,
counsel for DR.. Saggus, on Thurs
day asserted that the charges
against the physician are based on
! a false premise. Mr.. Norman is in
Atlanta to investigate certain phases
| of the case.
The brain, liver, stomach and
spine of the first Mrs. Saggus are
now being analysed by DR.. Edgar
Everhart, chemist to the state geoio.
! gist. Certain organs from the body
| of Charles W. Wilbanks, first hus-
| bond of the present Mrs. Saggus,
are to be brought to Atlanta for
chemical examination.
The body of Mrs. Saggus was ex-
| humed Tuesday afternoon from the
| grave in the Sandy Cross church
yard in Taliaferro county, and the
y1scera brought to Atlanta Wednes-
dav afternoon by DR.. A. w. Simp-
| son, county physician of Wilkes
county. DR.. Simpson left Atlanta
Thursday morning for Commerce,
Ga, to eXhume the body of Mr.. Will
banks, whose remains are buried in
the New Salem churchyard about Z
miles from that place.
When DIR. Everhart's report of
his chemical analysis is submitted,
II Will show that no poison was
found in Mrs. SagguS' body" declar-
ed Mr.. Norman.
1t is to- be expected that a small
quantity of strychnine will be found
in Mr.. Wilbanks' body, because DR..
Saggus, who attended him during
his last illness, administered two
doses of strychnine of one-thirtieth
| of a grain each. tbs was given as
stimulant and the quantity was not
| sufficient to cause DEATH
Lawyer Scouts Charges
Mr.. Norman declared that if.
however, the report of the chemical
| analysis shows results different from
those expected by the defendant, a
preliminary hearing will be de.
! manded.
he case will soon be over" said
Mr.. Norman.
There has been considerable wild
talk about the probability of charges
being lodged against the present Mrs.
Saggus, in an attempt to show d
| connection with the two deaths. This
Is talk and nothing more. Solicitor
General Marion Felts has nothing
on which to base such conclusions. >"
Solicitor FeltS succeeded Mr.. Nor
man as prosecuting attorney of the
judicial circuit of which Wilkes
county is a part.
y am much puzzled by the atti-
| tlIde of the Rev. J. NJ Hawkins,
| superintendent of the Methodist Or
phans' home, at Decatur, and broth
er.in-law of Mr.. Wilbanks," declared
MI. Norman. HE has endeavored
to prejudice the public mind by sem
sational interviews, and has shown
deep animus against DR.. Saggus.
came to Atlanta to find out why Mr..
Hawkins is so Vindictlve against DIR.
SaSgus. There must be some ul.
terror motive"
The Rev. Hawkins was one of the
principal witnesses at the coroner's
inquest in Washington, Ga, which
resulted in a verdict charging Dr.
SaCgus with poisoning his first wife
ana Mr.. Wilbanks. Another wit
| ness at this inquest was r. E. Walk
er, OF Atlanta, brother of the first
I Mrs. Saggus.
THE attitude of Mr.. Walker has
been entirely fair" said Mr.. Nor
man. "He has merely tried to deter
mine the facts in the case, and has
not attempted to prejudice the result
Of the investigation"
1.-The Saggus family, longtime
residents Of Taliaferro and Wilkes
counties, is highly esteemed by ev-
erybody. The people throughout
that section do noe take much stock
in the charges again1t DR.. Saggus.
Chemists Report Soon
The chemical analysis begun by
DR.. Everhart Immediately after he
received the viscera Wednesday aft
ernoon, can not be completed for sew
eral days, according to the chemist.
His report will be submitted direct to
the Wilkes county authorities and
until it is received no. further steps
will be taken in the Csc, it is said.
DR.. Saggus, in his cell in the
Wilkes county Jail, maintains an air
of utmost composure, according to
dispatches from Washington Hav-
ing issued a general denial Of the
charges against him, the physician
has refused to make any further
statement under advice of his coun.
sci. Likewise Mrs. Saggus, at her
home in Harlem, Ga, continues in
her refusal to discuss the case.