The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-26
SHOT HER SISTERS DEAD.
AN ARIsTOCRAT1C WOMAN OF AT.
LANTA A MURDERBSs.


Family for Year Although Living in
the Same House.
ATLANTA, GA, Feb. 25.-Miss Florence
Force and Miss Minnie Force we're mur-
dersd by their elder sister, Miss Julia Force,
at their home in this city to-day.
The tragedy parallels the Voolfolk horror
In the shocking details Of its conception and
preparation.
Miss Julia Force, the murderess, who is
now in custody, having surrendered to the
police red-handed with the blood OF her sis
ters warm upon her, is S6 years of age, with
white hair. but a youthful face and figure
that class her with the most handsome
women Of this city. She is highly edu-
Gated, being a graduate aud having been
for some time an inmate of an Episcopal
convent of New York preparatory to be-
coming a member of the order of the White
Veil. Her family is aristooratio in its
lineage, the Forces coming TO Atlanta from
Charleston, s. c., of which city they were
natives, and where the father WAS wealthy
and influential shoe merchant years ago.
Miss Minnie Force was % years of age and
Miss Florence 80 years. Finer Or more ac-
compllshed types of womanhood could not
be found. For years they have both, as we'll
as the woman who tonight occupies the
couch of a murde ress, been widely known
in Atlanta. Their brothers, composing the
firm of g. H. & a. w, Force, shoe dealers
on Whitehall street, were the first mer-
chants in their line to open up in this city
after the war. and consequently the family
is one Of the landmarks of the community.
During the early youth Of the ladies they
we're society bellies, the family being at that
time wealthy. The Force Bros. still do a
fine business and are possessed Of fine prop
erty, including a handsome residence on
Crew street at the corner of Rs wson, where
the tragedy occurred to-day. OF recent years
however, the three sisters have gone out
somewhat less and have devoted themselves
to church and Sunday school work.
AsUsPIoIoN OF INSANITY.
Insanity of temporary nature at least
is believed to have caused the elder sister
to commit the terrible deed, which has hor-
riied the whole community. It appears,
however, that for some months past Miss
Julia has not been on good terms with her
sisters, and in fact the entire family, but
the nature of the trouble. which none but
the family can disclose has not fully come
out. The mother. a very old lady,
is completely prostrated by the shock,
and her death is expected to result from the
blow. The brothers, while probably as
frank and open about the tragedy as they
could be under the immediate influence of
the horrible event. ask to be relieved at
present from any statement regarding the
family disaffection which existed. From
servants it is learned that Miss Julia lived
practically alone in the house. She kept
her room closely and did not eat her meals
with the family. For several months she
has not been known to speak to her broth
ers or sisters. Her morose actions we're re-
garded as the result Of mental troubles, her
brothers stated when it was referred to.
Whether the elder sister was mentally
unbalanced or not, the manner in which the
killing was done shows clearly that it had
been well planned. This morning Miss
Julia. who had but recently returned from
protracted visit to her brother in St.
Louis, since which time her actions have
been peculiar as stated, induced her mother
TO go out to a neighbor's house on social
call Her two sisters were left at home,
Miss Florence being upstairs ill in bed,
being convalescent from long spell of sick
ness, and Miss Minnie being occupied with
some fancywork in the sitting room on the
first floor of the house.
CLEARING THE HOUSE.
The family kept two negro servants, a
cook and a house girl. To rid herself of
these witnesses Miss Julia sent the house
girl to distant grocery for a broom, and
dispatched the cook to the store Of her
brothers, on Whitehall street. This left her
alone with the two unsuspeoting girls
About O'Clock the girl sent to the store de-
livered her message. She had been told to
tell the brothers to come home imme-
diately though the servant was ignorant
OF the cause of the summons. The broth
ers believed that their sister Florence had
been seized with a sudden and serious re-
lapse, and without a moments delay they
hurried toward the family home. When
they reached the door the house was as
silent as the very tomb, and going up the
stairway two steps at bound, hurrying to
the sick room Of their beloved sister, the
strong men were horror-stricken upon push
ing the door open softly to behold
the pale face of their sister covered
with warm blood. which oozed freely from
bullet hole in her forehead, and her sight
less eyes turned blankly TO the ceiling. She
was dead. The other sister was frantically
called upon, but no answer came, and the
two men rushed to the floor below, not
dreaming of the awful sight that was to
meet them there Lying upon the sitting
room floor, with bullet in her brain, lay
the Youngest sister, Minnie. She was not
yet dead when found, but expired almost
IN that same minute, before the eyes Of the
horror-stricken brothers. Miss Minnie had
evidently been the frat victim OF her sis
ter's pistol. Her position on the floor
and the location of the shot indicated that
she had been approached from behind aud
Killed while sitting in her chair. In the
sick girls chamber there were no evidences
Ok a struggle, but it is thought that she had
partly raised herself up in bed at the report
OF the shot downstairs, when the murderess
taShed In with the smoking weapon in her
"enzled hand and completed her horrible
work.
THE MURDFREss sURRENDERs.