The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-01
SHERIFF SHIP TELLS
 OF EDMONDSON MYSTERY
Whereabouts of the Owner of Woodland Mills Farm is Still Unsolved- Governor Asked
 to Offer Reward.

Decatur Nov. 3O-(special.) )--After an investigation lasting two days and without finding any clue as to the whereabouts of Tom Edmondson, who was believed to have murdered his wife. mother and three children and then set fire to his home, Sheriff Thomas K. Shipp, District Solicitor David C. Al" mon, and County Solicitor D. F. Green, have just returned from Woodland Mills. this county, where the crime was committed
 The second jury which. was empan- neled at Woodland Mills, Saturday, 70 investigate the crime adjourned With out finding any evidence that would place the crime in clearer light. . Sheriff Shipp says that he had done everything ip his power to clear up the mystery and that he would ask Govern or Conner to offer a reward for the ap- prehension of the guilty ones
 Edmondson is still missing and what became of him is a mystery. There are some who believe that Edmondson nm self committed the crime and that ne then threw himself into the hre ana that his body was completely destroyed by the flames If this be true no trace whatever of his body remains that can be identified
 Sheriff Shipp and others are of the opinion that Edmondson and his entire family were murdered and robbed ny unknown persons.
 Details of the Tragedy.
 Sheriff Shipp said the facts in tho case so far as he was able to learn, while at Woodland Mills, were about as follows
 Nefghbors discovered the house on fire about II o'clock "Wednesday night and when they arrived at the place the roof had fallen in and the barn, too, was almost destroyed by fire
 They noticed a portion of body in the ruins of the house partially cover ed with some heavy tinbers. They se- cured sticks and dragged the body out. While 1t was badly burned, they were able to identify 1t as the body of Mrs. Tom Edmondson. A portion Of the body of one of Bdmondson's little girls was also taken out or tns ruins of the dwelling. The upper por- tion of this body was not badly burned and there were three knife wounds in the chest.
 In the barn, partially covered with cotton seed, was the partial remains os Tom Edmondson's two-year-old girl baby. A watch a pocketbook ana some small silver coins, which had belonged to Edmondsons mother. were found about the place. The watch belonged to the husband of the elder Mrs. Edmond son. and she is said to have worn 1t uns der her clothing.
 According to this evidence, it Is proved that Edmondson's wife and two of his children perished in the flames, as their bodies were found and iden- tified. Sheriff Shipp is also certain that Edmondson's mother perished in the flames on account of her watch and other trinkets being found about the place.
 There is nothing to indicate what be- came of Edmondson himself and the third child. "A large number Of teeth jaw bones and other bones were found scattered about the ruins of the house and barn, but they were in such con- ditfor it was impossible to tell what bodies they Belonged to. A portion of these teeth and other bones may have been Edmopdso1l's.
 Only the lower portion of Edmond sons wife's body was found and this was identified by her size. The rest of her body is supposed to have been burned.
 It Is said that Edmondson was some what Jealous of his wife, but there was no serious breach between them ana those who knew Edmondson best say that he would not have murdered his wife and his family and set fire to his home on this account If he committed the crime, it is said that this would have been the only motive.
 Robbed and Murdered.
 Sheriff Shipp expresses the opinion after going to woodland Mills. that Ednondgon was robbed of the money he got for ten bales of cotton which he sold that day, his family was mur- dered his home and barn set on fire, and Edmondson's body hidden away bv the criminals. in order to cast sus- nicion on Edmondson himself. If Ed mondson is not dead. he has been most succ tui in evading the search of the oflc. $ and the citizens of the neigh borhood who have been over every foot of ground around Woodland Mills since inc crime was committed.
 Sheriff Shipp says that in Edmond son's barn the fire destroyed several hundred bushels of corn. large quan- tttv of cotton seed, ten tons of hay, a buggy a wagon. harness, blows and other farming implements, besides some live stock.
 No trace of the money that Edmond son secured from the sale of the cotton has been found and this would seem to indicate that Edmondson himself Is not A. murderer and suicide.
 The nearest neighbor to the Edmond son place is about a half-mile dist