The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22
THE CAPTURE OF AN OUTLAW.
Hodge, the Desperate, who has for Five
Years Evaded the Officers, in Jail.


Years Evaded the Officers, in Jail.
PROSPERITY, May 15.-Fred Hodge, the ne
| gro outlaw and desperate, was arrested yester-
day at Spring Hill, Lexington county, by Cap
tain U. b. Whites and A. II. Blease from
Newberry county, assisted by citizens from
Spring Hill, under warrant for burglary in
Newberry county, the warrant being counter
signed by a trial justice in Lexington county.
Armed with this warrant Captain Whites
having located Hodge, went to Spring Hill
alone on the 9th for the purpose of attempting
to make the arrest the next day, and in looking
over the field for the next days operation in
company with q friend, who was unarmed,
they unexpectedly came upon Hodge, who was
| quarreling with another negro Captain Whites
looked at the situation for a moment by glim-
mering light and concluded to attempt the
arrest. He put his left hand in Hodges collar
and presented arms with his right arms with
his right hand at Hodges breast and invited
him to surrender or be killed. Hodge replied:
| "Kil me them, ct the same moment he
| grasped Whites's pistol with his left hand
| across the hammer, and with an open knife in
| his right hand endeayored to cut the pistol
| from Whitess hand
| Then struggle for life or death for q few
minutes ensued, such as only two men in NOR
tai combat can know, during which Whites's
| right hand was painfully though not danger
! ouSly cut. WhiteSs friend, though unanned,
| then came TO his assistance, when Hodge loosed
| his hold upon the pistol and ran away. Two
| shots were fired at him without effect. One
| shot was fired in the struggle without effect
| The next day Captain Whites came to pros
| perity. In a short time he received telegram
| saying: Hodge will cross at Counts ferry
| tonight, Leaves here after dark" Mr..
| Blease agreed to go with Captain Whites.
| They started, but on account of the torrents OF
rain falling and the swollen condition OF the
! streams, they could not reach Counts ferry
| during the night. They spent the night at
| Chapin's and arrived ut Spring Hill at sunrise
| next morning, and found that the game had
| not flown on account of swollen streams,
| A trusty negro was engaged and Hodge was
| soon located in an old barn slowed away
among the fodder. The necessary arrange
| ments soon being made, q number os Spring
| Hills good people assisting the barn was sur
| rounded and at a given signal all rushed for
ward Bease, with a steady pistol and stern
| command, brought Hodge TO bay while the
others approached. Captain Whites approached
and securely handcuffed Hodge. He was then
| hurried to Peaks, thence to Newberry Jail,
| where he was turned over to Sheriff Riser.
There are many warrants for Hodge. He
| has evaded the officers of the law for moro
| than five years. He has ranged in Neberry,
| Lexington, Fairfield and Edgefeld counties
| His principal tramping ground was from
| ChappelPs, in NewbeTry county, TO Spring
/ Hill, in Lexington county. The people are
now rid Of a terror, and are under lasting
| debt of gratitude to Messrs. Whites and
| Brease. No reward was offered by the gov
ernor, but $35 reward was offered by private
| individuals.