The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-03-12
STRANGE MAN
ON AN ISLAND
Refuses to Tell Inquirers Who
He IL.
Officers Endeavor Ia Ascertain II lie
is Charged With killing His
Family.
THE POLICE WILL VISIT HIM

Decatur. Ala, March Ion 4
several miles below Decatur, Their.
Hives a strange and mysterious white
man with a negro family, according
to stories told by Tennessee river
steamboat men. When this man al
rived on the island, how he cams
there and where he came from are
Questions OF a mysterious nature that
mo one has been able to answer. The
white man himself Will not answer
them or tell what his name is. II Is
believed, however. that he reached
| the island in a skim. IL is said that
he does not appear to be crazy, but
is strange and mysterious in his ac-
tons. so much so that the white peo-
pie would have nothing to do with
him and the negro family, through
sympathy, took him in and gave him
bed and board. The man. it is said,
has a growth Of beard several weeks
old on his face.
BY some this man is thought to be
Tom Edmondson. who is supposed to-
have been murdered and his body
|cremated with other members of his
family at Woodlawn Mills. this coun-
ty on November 25, 1908. Those
who have seen this man and who
have read descriptions of Tom Ed
mondson say the descriptions of the
man are one and the same.
Bob Clements Convicted.
II will be remembered that a few
days ago Bob Clements was tried and
convicted for the murder of Nettie
Edmondson, the daughter OF Tom
Edmondson. and it will also be re-
membered that there are other war
rants against Clements for the muir
der of other members OF the family.
Clements was given a life time SELL
tence in the state penitentiary, but
he is still in the county jail in De
catur, awaiting an appeal to the SUI
preme court of the state.
Ever since the murder of the Ed
mondsons and the cremation OF their
bodies in the fire that destroyed their
residence and barn many people have
been Of the opinion that Tom Ell
|mondson did II himself and then es-
capped. This was the verdict rendered
by coroner's jury that investigated
the case and was the opinion OF Cir
cult Solicitor ID. c. Almon and many
Others at the time the crime was COM
mitted, and this is still the opinion OF
many people. This was the theory of
the defense set up by Bob Clements
attorneys in the trial of his case a few
days ago.
No Trace OF Edmondson.
SO far as Tom Edmondson is con-
cerned no trace of him has ever been
found. dead or alive. In the ruins of
his home the charred remains OF Tom
Edmondson's little girl ana little boy
were found and the partial remains
Iof two other bodies, which could MOI
be identified. The family consisted
lof Tom .Edmondson, his wife. his
wife, his mother and two chiljren.
This leaves one person of the Ed
mondson family missing that no trace
OF whatever has been found. Can the
missing one be Tom EdmondsOn Is,
Ii possible that the strange man on
the island is Tom Edmondson?
According TO witnesses who tests
fed IN the trial of Bob Clements a
few days ago. Tom EdmOndson was 4
simple-minded man, but was good
farmer and able to look after thcl
matters pertaining to his farm.
The strange white man on the
island below here will be called upon
By officers OF this county for the pun
pose of seeing whether or not he ~
Tom Edmondson.