Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-27
JULIA FORCE MURDER TRIAL.
Verdict of Acquittai on Grounds of In
sanity Expected.
tBy telegraph to the Dispatch.l

10y toifkiRPu ~ the HlopdNcnI
ATLANTA, Ca. June 2G.-Miss Julia Force
was put on trial to-day for the murder of
her two sisters last February The family
Miss Force planned the double murder
carefully and after having committed 1t
walked 20 police headquarters and surren-
dered herself. She had kept o diary for a
year or more and all through II appeared
her intention of some time killing her
sisters. Comparatively little trouble
was experienced in getting jury.
The prisoner entered the court
room with tho widow of ex-Gov-
ernor Conley. She Is defended by Smith.
Glenn, 4 Smith. Secretary HOke Smith $
law firm. and John Hardeman, a cousin.
Secretary smiths partners are associate
counsel. Solicitor Charles Hill represented
the State. Miss Forces mother and two
brothers were in court sitting near tho
prosecuting attorney. Bishop kinloch N"i-
son ,ofthe Episcopal Diocese OF Georgia, was
tho most important witness called by the
prosecution and the most interesting was
DIR. John &. Olmstead. He was acquainted
with the two sisters who were killed and
with Miss Julia Force. lio was called TO
the house soon after the murder and made
an examination of the bodies. He has
frequently visited Miss Force since she
was arrested and talked with her as to the
TALKS WITH THE PRISONER.
He testified to conversations with the
prisoner. and said: My first interview
with her after the killing was on the fol
lowing morning at police headquarters.
Nobody was present but Miss Julla Force
md myself. She told me she bad done the
shooting aud gave two accounts OF the
killing Of Miss Minnie. One was the shot
was fred Just az Miss Minnie turned her
head after being spoken 10 by herself. and
the other that she Miss julia was ID
front of Miss Minnie when the shot was
fred. The FIRST account Is the one con-
sistent with the location of the wound.
She had 20 remove them, she SAID, on
account of the unhappiness at home; that
her brothers had not treated her right.
What grievance had she against her sls-
ters 2" ,,;,
20 her. and she thought her sisters had
been the cause of It.
What special unkindness 2"
"She talked about II IN general way
mentioning one grievance specifically
that affair AZ the dry goods store
This referred to au order glvon by one
of her brothers TO a merchant not to let
julia buy anything on credit, as she was
not responsible.
But what motive had she for murder
ing nor sisters -
"She thought they inspired her brothers
10 treat her unkindly.
She told me- continued DR.. Olmstead,
"tbat she had prayed that 1t might not be,
but she had 10 XII them
" Why that day?"
"Well. the order gwen High y Co. not
TO allow her any more credit 10 her mind
was "a elimination OF a long series OF per.
secuuons. She thought II dlsgraced her.
PURPOSE IN KILLING.
"She said her purpose IN killing her
sister was 10 be hung for murder and thus
disgrace her family. That was The reason
she did not kill her brother A.4le. She
had reserved for HIM punishment more
terrible than death-that of having HIM
see her hung for the murder of her two
sisters She had fully expected TO be
hung md glorlhed III the thought that
such a death would disgrace her brother
Allie
The defence was INSANITY, and such
stroug case was made out that before
the evidence was half In acqul:tal was pre-
dlcted. The State was not able TO sue
cessfullv combat the defence with test-
monv. Bishop Nelson testified she was
insane. The State insisted that the insults
were real. not deiusIOns, and that she was
sane when she shot her two sisters Minnie
first. downstairs, and Florence, the In
valid. up stars.
At O'Clock both sides announced they
had closed The case will be argued and
the iurv charged tomorrow. 4 verdict ol
acouIttal on grounds OF insanity Is e6-
pected.