The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-06-30
JULIA FORCE.
Tried at Atlanta aud Adjudged a Lu.
Aatic.
She Declares She Is SRne-KilIed Her
Sisters Because They Imposed
Upon Her.

ATLANTA, Ga. June 26.-Miss Ju-
liza Force, who killed her two sisters
AT the Family home in this city last
spring, and who has been in jail since,
was arraigned in the criminal branch
of the Fulton Superior Court this
morning.
Since the murder occurred Miss
Force has been cnnfiued in the county
Jail, but the opinion has been that
she was crazy al the time the crime
was committed. She has, however,
persistently denied that she was iu-
sane, ana as repeatedly proclaimed
that she did the killing because the
two sisters always were imposing on
her. She was carried before the Court
Of Ordinary soon after the killing
took place aud WAS carefully investi-
gated, aud the jury said she was in
sane. This, however, did not stop
the t,ial which is now in progress,
and by which the womaE's life il
placed in jeopardy. The trial is one
Of the most interesting the State has
known for macy years, because Of the
prominence of tue Force family.
II did not take much time to secure
a Jury, and when the trial began, the
courtroom was thronged with Che
best people of the city. The wife of
an ex-governor OF the Stale. VINO is
kin TO Miss Force, was with her, aud
the Bi-hOp of the Episcopal Church
OF the diocese Of the State OF Georgia
WAS there. A dozen of the prominent
society people OF tne city circled the
accused.
1t aid not require more than an
hour to secure ii jury, and this was
one Of the most astonishing features
OF the case.
The evidence was all disposed of
during the day, ami both the defense
and tue State rested the case when
the hour OF adjournment came.
Miss Forces mother and two broth
ers were in court. 1t is an unusual
ching o see the family Of the muir
dered persons seated by the side of
the murderer or murderess, but such
was the case when the, opening a-gu-
ment was begun by Solicitor Hill.
He was follow ed by Mr.. Burton
Smith for the defense. Mr.. Smith
made strong appeal to the jury and
the effect OF it was plainly visible
upon the faces of several. Col. Hsr.
deman, of Macon, followed also for
the defense. He is u kinsman OF
Miss Force.
After the dinner recess Judge Clarke
charged the jury. Duricg the deliv-
cry of his remarks Miss Force sat im-
movable before the jury with her
face buried in her hands. In his
charge Judge Clarke referred to the
enormity Of the crime, sud said the
jury should consider the prior life OF
the prisoner. He said the crime was
probably without II parallel unless il
be that Of the Borden murder case, il
That crime was committed by Lizzie
Borden. The Force murder was even
more horriOle than that. AS the
Judge was charging the jury the
prisoner broke down, sobbing con.
vulsively. The jury remained out
only n lev minutes, aud at O'Clock
brought III verdict Of not guilty. II
will be remembered that Mrs Force
was tried shortly after the murder oc,
CURED on writ Of luuacy aud Was
promptly adiudged insane. States
Attorney General Hill held that tue
proceeding were irregular&s the cas-
should have gone first he ore the
Criminal Court, where tine prisoner
nad the privilege OF entering a plea
OF insanity ami establishing tie lac
20 the satisfaction of the jury. This
iras Oeeu done, and about Mis-. Force.
insarity there seems to lie It'll,
tnuoC, She Will be sent at once to
the State luAatic asylum at Milledge
vile.