Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-04-22
Lynch Law In Augusta County.
Thomas Hodges taken from the Jail
and Hung by UnknoU" Parties.


up in front OF the Jail ia this city, and
cslling for the Tailor. Mr.. Harlan, stated
tina, they had prisoner TO deliver 10 his
charge. Mr.. H. asked who the parties
were who made the demsnd for entrance.
The reply was "kale! and tina, the pris.
oner' name wa, Fitzgerald" Mr.. II.
replied that he understood their object.
end that they could not be ADMITTED. The
parties replied ,ba, they wanted to &c. in.
and intended TO 60 in. Mr.. H. persisted
in his refusal. The men then went off.
and shortly afterwards returned on foot.
The demand for admission was repeated,
with similar resul, to that just announ.
ced. The leader OF the party remarked
10 his comrsdes-"men, he refuses 10
open the door" The response was
"break il open then" The captain start
ed for The door, but the men h.sitsied -
when the lesder, IN stern and command
ing voice. said "Damn it, men, are you
gong 10 fslter ct this hour 7" Instantly
the crowd moved towards the door. Two
or three strokes with crow bar soon
sprung the lock. and the door flew open.
J,itor Harlan appeared in the passage.
The keys vera demanded. and refused
the JuIlor remsrking, gentleman. you are
here 10 violation of law and order. and |
sn so officer OF the county. aud you can.
no. get the keys 'Th zen, remarked one
OF The men, your wife can give them 10
us-ihst will not be your delivering
them Mr.. Harland replied-"No.
nsither myself nor vile will give them 10
you Then, We will break open The
cell, for We caue for and intend 10 have
tina. man. meaning Hodges. They
speedily broke off The hinges Of ihe outer
door TO the cell. and :hen wrenched of
the large iron staple and lock which fast,
ened The inner door. and entered the cell.
Geo. w. Smiley was 10 The same room
with Hodges. Looking at Smiley. one
remarked This is not the msn.' but ex-
tended his hand 10 Smiley. and asked,
How are you, George ? Smiley did
no. recognize The party, az the light was
very dim. Turning 10 Hodges. several
ssid-'Ihis is The Dsn-we know you
Hodges replied. no. am not the man
The answer WAS to gather him up by The
feet and head and bearing him out, place
HIN in swo-horse wagon, filed with old
pots. kettles and crooks. which made con-
siderable noise 4, they drove out OF town
up The Greenville road.
On Tuesday morning The intelligence
came 10 the city, that Hodges was bang
ing TO 8 tree aboU, mile distant. by the
side OF the road on the old plank turnpike.
A large number of our citizens went out
TO view the ghasily sight. He was sus-
pended from a large limb by a rope hal
ter, his feet about inches from the
ground. The hobbies placed on HIN in
lsil, sull were Oh his feet. His hands
were bound behind him with leather
strap. The rope was around his neck in
,Hp-knot. He was evidently sWangled
20 death He had on his pants. socks
and shin. just as he was found in HE al.
Twas slckening spectacle. Thus end
ed the earthly career of Thomas Hodges.
recognized horse thief and murderer.
Dr.. Eys,er was called on by the prop
er authorities 10 examine the body. His
theory VS. thai he had been s,rangIed 10
dealh, a. there was no dIslocaiion Of the
neck and that the Struggle must have last
ed al least 30 minutes. The toes of his
stockings were ~orn by reason it was
thought, Of touching the ground, or in
spasmodc eferi to gain the assistance of
the tree on which he va. hung. as the
bark Of it wss somewhat broken.
A Jury OF inquest was held over the
BODY and verdict given in accordance
with the above s,s,emen, Of facts.
Iii. estimated that aboui 900 men were
in the party al the Jail, and i, was stated
by one Of The party. that 500 men were
within a few moments call.
When The passage door was thrown
open. the Jailer was seized by the back
OF the neck by an athletic man, and hIs
face pressed against The breast of his cap
tor-ine man rems,klng 10 Mr.. H.. as he
did 10 Mr.. McCu,chen. ex.Sherif. who
was sleeping at me Jail and had come
down into the pssssge-thai they dlu no.
intend to hut hsr of any ones head
except Hodges. but that they were deter
mined 10 have him.
Hodges bad no, eaten anything since
Saturday morning, the time he was hrst
incsrcers,ed. He asked Smiley. il there
was any way 10 get some arsenic. that he
was ,ired of life. Smiley told him lie
could have nothing TO do with anything
Of the kind. He then rolled up his shirt
sleeve and examining the veins OF his
arm. asked If he could not bleed himself
TO death by cutting one Of them open.
Smiley told him he thought no'-thsi 1t
was fon!ishness Tor him 10 lake his own
lie. Smiley was not acquainted with
the character OF the offence for which
Hodges was confined. and having only
heard his story. thought he was an in)ur-
ed msn.
When the banging a. the door was hrs'
heard by the Two prisoners. Smiley re-
marked TO Hodges, that he thought the 10
truders were after him. Hodges asked
il he (S.) thought they would lake his
life. SMILEY remarked that he did moi
know. but tina, he thought ihev were al
ter him. Hodges then commenced pray
my quite fervsnIy.
Hodges was recognized as. desperate
character. II is SAID tina. he killed a man
I'll .lanrap