The age-herald., 1899-07-22
FIVE S|C|LANS .LYNCHED BY
 ENRACED CITIZENS OF LOUISIANA
Dr. Ford Hodge, Prominent Citizen of TaNuah, Muder-
 Ow| Assaulted by the Band of ASSsns,

premises and thence going to the large dwelling immediately behind the shop which was owned by the Defattas, found Joe hid under the chimney. He was promptly taken out and the sheriff started to the jail court house square crowd of about 250 citizens overpowered the sheriff and after a severe struggle took Joe and Charles Defatta down in the field to the slaughter pen and hung them to the gallows used for slaughtering beeves.
 Joe denied the shooting and said Charles did 1t. Charles said Joe did the shooting, which half dozen saw and know. Charles said he jumped on Dr. Hodge and was sorry of it, and that Frank Defatta and Sy Deferroch were the cause of the trouble.
 The crowd then adjourned to the jail, overpowered the jailor and deputies, taking the keys went in and brought out Sy De- ferroch, Frank Defatta and Joe Cereno and hung them to an oak tree in the jail yard. Not shot was fired and the crowd was orderly and very determined. A good many citizens plead for the lives of the Sicilians, but of no avail. as this was the third out
 
 two years ago Frank Defatta shot and killed negro for picking up watermelon which Frank had for sale, and about one year ago Joe Defatta shot and killed Pat Matthews, landing keeper at Milkens Bend, La, as he was passing his store, in cold blood, about trivial controversy they had about some freight and was cleared by some technicality of the law. They had frequently made their boasts that they would do as they pleased and their money would clear them
 They have since these two scrapes be- come more open and violent in their ac- tions and talk, and have on several occa- slons had fusses with some of the best citi- zens
 Planned Murder of Another Man
 About six months ago Frank waylaid and would have killed one of our best citizens, but as luck would have it he did not go the way Frank expected him to. The people believe that all five of the men had pre- meditated and planned to kill Dr. Hodge Just at dark, as he was going to his supper, as the doctor generally goes by himself. The plan was for Charles to jump on the doctor, Joe to shoot him from the door.
 
 have gone and helped finish him up.
 Their plans were too well laid and, to the sorrow of the whole community, were well carried out. Joes gun was found on the counter with box of shells by it. The greatest miracle was that more citizens were not killed. pr. J. Ford Hodge Is a prominent physician and is parish coroner, and is held by all in high esteem
 He moved to this place from Calhoun about two years ago. He is badly shot. and the doctors say he cannot survive the wounds.
 At the writing sent now he is very low and sinking rapidly. While the hanging is deplored by all, 1t is recognized as the only course that could be pursued in the matter The five dcilians were buried today in the Potter's field near Tallulah. Every th1ng IS quiet and orderly. The grand jury is In session, and will investigate the whole atter.
 Some of the Sicilians, 1t is said. have families in Europe, but none of them have any relatives here.
 Report of Grand Jury
 The following is the report of the grand jury:
 TO the Honorable Judge of the Seventh District Court:
 We, the grand jury of Madison parish having been instructed by your honor to in vestigate the occurrences of the night of July 20, which resulted in the shooting of Dr. J. Ford Hodge, and the lynching of five men who were charged with the shooting at Tallulah after due investigation beg leave to report" Here follows the details con- corning the occurrences of the 18th and 2th, as related in dispatches already sent. In conclusion the grand jury says:
 "It is evident from the facts brought to our knowledge that the men who were lynched had formed conspiracy to assas- sinate Dr. Hodge and the mob learning of the facts took the law into their own hands. After diligent inquiry we have not been able to learn the names or identity of any of the men composing the mob. (Signed) U. w. JORDAN, Foreman"