The Morning News

WOOLFOLK AT ATLANTA.

THE AUTHORITIES AFRAID TO KEEP HIM AT MACON.

He Protests Innocence and Says the Crime is Too Sad to Talk About—A Possibility That He Attempted to Outrage His Sister—3,000 People Around the Graves of the Dead.

MACON, GA., Aug. 7.—Fully 3,000 people were at Rose Hill cemetery this morning at 10 o'clock to witness the funeral ceremonies over the Woolfolk victims. Nine hearses brought in the bodies at the appointed time. Owing to the size of the undertaking the graves could not be prepared in time and the coffins were placed side by side in an adjoining section to await their completion. Meanwhile a heavy shower came up, completely drenching everything, but it did not dampen the interest of the people who stood and gazed horror stricken at the unusual sight.

THE MURDERER'S SISTER ARRIVES.

While waiting upon the workmen Dr. J. R. Branham, of Forsyth, conducted the funeral rites. His remarks were touching and appropriate, and melted the large concourse to tears during the delivery. Mrs. Edwards, of East Macon, an own sister of Tom Woolfolk, the murderer, arrived during the ceremonies and saw the coffins for the first time. She had been prostrated with hysteria ever since she had heard the awful news. As soon as her eyes met the sight she gave vent to piercing screams that were heard over the large cemetery.

THE DEAD WIFE'S FATHER.

The aged father of Mrs. Woolfolk, Mr. Howard, and his sons, Charles and John, were also present. The old man, with his white hair loose down his shoulders, presented a pitiable spectacle in his great grief. The graves, nine in all, were not finished before 4 o'clock this afternoon, when the burial took place. The bodies were interred side by side.

Tom Woolfolk was taken by the Sheriff to Atlanta on this morning's early train. This was done as a precautionary measure, as it was feared the terrible scene of the funeral would excite the crowd to madness.

BLOOD AND BRAINS.

There are no new developments since yesterday. The clothing fished out of the well had blood and brains on it. As far as learned, Woolfolk has not attempted to explain their presence in the well. The community is still terribly worked up over the matter, as the murdered family was highly connected in this city, and well thought of over the entire county. There seems to be little doubt in the public mind that Tom Woolfolk is the murderer. A theory of the crime advanced to-day is that Woolfolk attempted to outrage his sister Pearl, which some say he had attempted before, and failing began the wholesale slaughter to cover up the blackness of the deed. This theory, however, is not generally accepted. After butchering his victims he went back and felt them all to see if their lips were sealed, and unless he confesses it will never be positively known exactly how and why he did it.

IN FULTON COUNTY JAIL.

ATLANTA, GA., Aug. 7.—Thomas G. Woolfolk, charged with the massacre in Bibb county Friday night, was brought here from Macon this morning and put in Fulton jail for safekeeping. He sent for Judge James T. Nisbett during the day and tried to employ him as counsel, offering him a big fee. He said as all the family were killed save his own sisters he would now get the greater portion of his father's property, and could pay his lawyer well. Nisbett has not yet decided to take the case. Woolfolk asked the Judge's advice as to talking, as numbers of reporters were asking to see him. He was advised that he had better hold his tongue.

TALKED A LITTLE.

The prisoner talked a little about the crime before this, but protested innocence. In reference to the charge that another crime was committed besides murder he said there would be another murder if he could get to the father of that charge. Your correspondent visited the prisoner in his cell this afternoon, but the prisoner, while willing to talk on other topics, refused to be interviewed touching the crime. He said it was too sad to discuss and he preferred to be silent. He was self-possessed, rational and showed no grief or other emotion. Some fear is expressed by the jail authorities that the general feeling in the community over the crime may lead to some effort at violence to the prisoner here, but they are amply prepared to protect him.