The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-04-18

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| 4,Tbsiopswng article frem the Stsun
tot kpfht& is an account Of the Grim,
Dr. Shich Hodge was hung by III,
Staunton mob:
On Friday night last, shortly aftel
dark, Mr.. Andrew j. Palmer, who owns
the mill fefrn sriy known Is the "Pecl
Nil" near the railroad, about foul
miles east OF this place, went to his
stable with two negro boys, to see about
feeding his horses. He sent one of the
boys into the NOV to- get down some
hay, and the other to the mill to gel
some grain. Whilst he was standing
near the manger he heard something
move near him under the manger
thinking at first that it was dog, bu,
as be stepped back that he might see
what it was, the man--for it proved to
be man-appealed to him not to hurt
him, saying that he was drunk. and did
not know how he got in there He
endeayored to play the role of the
drunken man, but did not act that
character well enough to deceive Mr.,
Raimers As soon as one of the colored
boys saw him he recognized him as
man whom he had seen the week be.
fore, and who had inquired of him
whose horses those were be had with
him, and where the owner lived. He
went to the mill with Mr.. Palmer, who
"buttoned" the door as they went in
with the view of OBTAINING the stranger
till he could learn something more sat
istactory about his being in his stable
under such suspicious circumstances,
In short time the horse thief,
Thomas Hodges, drew pistol and de-
.msnded that the door should be opened,
and almost Instantly commenced firing.
Mr.. Palmer, not at all daunted or in
Inundated, though he was unarmed,
rushed upon him, seized him, and sue
ceeded in wrestling the pistol, which had
twice; been fred q. him, from the hands
OF Hodges. Whilst Palmer and Hodges
were grappled and struggling with each
other, Mr.. John C. Whitlock, the mil
Ter, approached to assist Mr.. Palmer,
when Hodge, drew another pistol ftom
his pocket, q nd,shot Mr.. Whitlock in
the left Side, which inflicted a wound
which, it is feared, is mortal.
Notwithstanding the wound thus in.
ficted upon Mr.. Whitlock, and the I'M
armed condition Of Mr.. Palmer, yet
they succeeded in overpowering Hodges
armed as be was with deadly weapons,
and Kept Him there till word was sent
to some Of the neighbors. Mr.. James
w. Hudson, who lives quite near the
mill, arrived upon the scene, q short
time after Whitiock was shot. and stood
guard over the prisoner with pistol
till Mr.. Palmer took Mr.. Whitlock to
the house, and when Mr.. Palmer re-
turned to the mill, he guarded the pris
oner till Mr.. Hudson got rope, with
which they bound him securely, when
Mr.. Palmer went for his neighbor, Mr..
John A, Hamilton. In the meantime,
the servants went for DR.. Smoot, at
Baskerville, to attend Mr.. Whitlock.
The prisoner was brought to this
place the same night by Messrs. A. j.
Palmer aud John A. Hamilton, and
put into jail about o'clock.
On Saturday afternoon he had his
committing trial before Justice Lee
r. Waddell, and was committed to
Jail to await his trial at the next county
court.
No one can fail to be struck with the
forbearance exhibited towards this
prisoner by Mr.. Palmer and others.
Mr.. Whitlock, a worthy: young man
and their friend was shot by horse
thief, and whilst suffering severely and
expressing the wish to die. to be re,
lieved from his circulating agony,
his friends forbore to- infict summary
punishment upon his murderer there
in his presence, at the scene Of his
crimes.
The sad misfortune-the wounding
and probably killing of this worthy
young man-receives an additional
shade OF melancholy from the fact that
his wife's health at this time is in such
condition as that such shock as the
death of her husband under such cir
cumstances would produce may prove
fatal to her.