Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-22
Mob Wreaks Terrible Vengeance
on DR.. Hodges Murderers.
TROUBLE BEGAN WITH A GOAT
Slciliaus Planned to Assassinate the Doc
tor, Because He Shot Troublesome
Animal Belonging to Frank ID cfatta.
Prisoners Taken from Sheriff.
(Ry Telegraph.)


which mas been Troublesome Tor some
time, and = IS believed they hal plan
ned to kill the doctor. Some vf thrn1
1t is said, lave famI.,s IN I.urotc.
but they ..a. 10 relatives here.
The lead are:
FRANK :..FATTA
CHARLES HEF'ATTA.
10 DEFATI'A
sly DI:FEHEOC1H.
JOHN ElrRE>iO.
CRICtN IF THE TROUBLE.
For several weeks Il lot of goats be
longing % Frank Defatta have been
sleeping AID running on the gallery OF
DR.. Hodges office and residence. The
doctor on numerous occasions request
ed the owner To keep his goats penned
up but he would. not do it and on the
night Of the 18th, DR.. Hodge shot one OF
them. Etrly neNt morning Frank De-
fatta came to Hodges office and said
to the docto-. You shot my goat. now
you better snoot me- The doctor or
dered him to leave ana Defatta left,
mumblini; something which the doctor
did not understand.
DIR. Hodge took his meals at the RS
idence of :, Mr.. Kaufman. and had to
pass 10 Dafatta's shop in going there.
About shutdown last evening the doc
tor and Ml. Kaufman started to sup
per. and as they got to JOS store Mr..
Kaufman. who was in the lead, says
Charles Detatta was sitting on the
steps and 10 standing i'm the store door.
ASSAILmED THE DOCTOR.
kauffma poke to them. hut neither
of the Ita!.1lfs returned the greeting.
AS DR.. Hodge passed. Charles jumped
at .l,x,,,
and struck .hc doctor. IDr. Hodge at
tempted - re,el the attack by striking
back With Ills fist. but finding the Sicil-
ian too much 70: him attempted to
draw his r:Stol. 10 Defatta. at the
door. pulled 4 double barrel shot gun
and fired :wo loads into the doctor,
striking him in his hands and abdomen.
Immediately on the crack Of the gun
Frank Defatta, sly Defferoch and John
Cereno. who We're in Dcfatta's store on
Front street. started on !, run to JOS
store with snot guns and long knives in
their hands
Court was III session. and large
crowd OF country people We're in town.
With the sheriff and his deputies they
joined in the chase and successed in
arresting ald disarming Frank Defat-
ia. sly DefT-roch and John Cereno, af-
ter 4 hard struggle.
MOB l-A !cS THE PRISONERS
The sheriff and his posse at once went
to the house and succeeded in taking
Charles De:a;ta 10 was found hidden
under chimney in an adjoining house
He was promptly taken out and the
sheriff started to Jail With Charles and
10. When Courthouse Square was
reached !, crowd of $50 citizens over
powered the sheriff and after a severe
struggle took JIG and Charles Defatta
down in The field ITO the slaughter pen
and hung them to the gallows used for
slaughter.fg heeves.
10 denied The shooting and said
Charles Gid it, Charles said 10 fired
the shots Which a half dozen people
saw. Charles said he jumped on Dr.
Hodge and as sorry for it. He said
Frank Defatta and Sy Defferoch were
the cause ci the trouble
The crowd then adjourned to the Jail
overpowercl the jailor and deputies
The keys We're secured and the crowd
quickly brought out Sy Defferoch,
Frank Dafatta and John Cerro and
hung them to an oak tree in the Jail
yard. Not shot was fired and the
crowd was orderly and quiet A good
many citizens plead for the lives Of the
Sicilians. Dat to no avail. as this was
lne tHlfu outrage or this Kind commit
ted by this class of people.
DEFATNAS BAD MEN.
About two years ago Frank Defatta
shot and Killed a negro for picking: up
watermelon which Frank had for
sale. One year ago 10 Defatta shot and
killed Hal Matthews, landing keeper at
Miiliken's Bend La, over a trivial con-
troversy. He was cleared by tech
nicality Of the law They had frequent
~ made boasts that they would do as
they pleased aHd their money would
clear them. They have since these two
scrapes become more open in their ac-
tons and talk and on several occasions
have had quarrels with the best citi-
Zens.
PLAN To KILL THE DOCTOR.
The people here believe the five men
3 had 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. Jo to shoot him from the
door and il help was needed, the others
would have gone to their aid
Y Their MANS were well laid and carried
out. JOS gun was found on the coun-
ter Witha f"x of shells by it.
Dr. Hodge is badly shot and the doc
tors say ne cannot recover
The five sicllias were buried today in
the porter's field near Tallulah. The