dougan became a medical doctor and he and his wife made their home in harvey station, new brunswick. in 1924, he gained wide recognition as the province's coroner who conducted the inquiry into the sensational shooting deaths of two young female siblings in fosterville, new brunswick. capitalizing on his celebrity following the january 1925 trial and conviction of darius h. thornton for the double murders, in the august provincial election dougan was elected to the legislative assembly of new brunswick as the conservative party candidate in the multiple-member riding of new brunswick. he was reelected in 1930 and served until june 27, 1939.