The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-20
READS LIKE A NOVEL.
4 STRANGE CASE BROUGHT TO
LIGHT RECENTLY.

R'sul IN Two PSrdons Il .;ng Granted py
The G ,vsrnor-Soms r oman, &c Festures
-rhe Complete S 'ory 10 Ols Oh .p ,er.
COLUMBIA, S. c, June IA case
was brought to the attention of Cover.
nor Tillman yesterday the details of
which Rad like the plot of some good
novel. AS result Of the presentation
of matter to the Governor small, quiet
looking white map, who went Inside the
penilentlary walls only two days ago as
a common convict, came forth again
yesterday afternoon, after brief ex-
perience of prison life, with full par
don in the pocket of his coat. His brief
stay in prison had changed his appear
ance very materially, for his hair had
been clipped and his face had been clean
shaVen. The strange part Of 1t all Is
that, even though pardoned, and free
man, he does not even know what legal
relations be bears to the young woman
whom he sometime ago welded. It Is
truly most remarkable case.
The story, as told to the Governor,
is romantic in extreme. The man ip
the case is John W. Hodge, of Claren.
don county. TIE woman is Hester
Hodge, nee Gibbes. 1t seems that about
two years ago Hodge married the girl,
who is said 70 be strikingiy pretty, the
ceremony being performed by
trial justice. They lived together as
maa and wife and things went along
without any trouble until short time
ago, About four months ago achild
was born to the couple. 1t appears that
there was another man who himself
wanted to marry the girl. She prefer
red Hodge, however, and the other
suitor attended the wedding. The
statement made to the Governor Was
that this Tilted sIitor, alleging that
the girl had colored blood IN her
veins, had a warrant ISSUED for her
and Hodge charging them with "un-
lawful intermarriage." They were ar
rested, tried and convicted. Hodge was
sentenced to one year in the peniten.
t1ary. The woman was sentenced to
pay fine of $500, but, owing to the
illness of her child, the judge released
her from Imprisonment temporarily
without the payment of the fine.
Upon the showing made to the Gov
ernor, there is no doubt as to Hodges
being white man. The girls grand
mother and mother were Of pure white
blood. On her fathers side, however.
there seems to have been a strain of
Indian or some other kind of blood, the
interjection of which into the family
extends back beyond the Revolution
ary war. To all outward appearance,
and as far back as the neighborhood
history goes, no trace of any other
blood but this can be found. The girls
family has always been considered
white and has associated with none
but white people. Her father fought
as a Confederate soldier through the
recent war. The family has always
stood we'll in the community. These
are the facts of the remarkable case as
presented to Governor Tillman yester-
day and which he considered justified
a pardon.
Now the question arises whether, af-
ter conviction, 10 the court Of General
Sessions, the parties to the marriage
contract can now be considered legally
married and whether their child is
legitimate or not. It is understood
that some effort will be made to have
this question decided ID the courts
State.