The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-07-05
May Be Made Against
the Man Now
HELD ON SUSPICION
In the City Prison--Poliee Said
to Have Evidence Connecting
Him With Killing Of Chris
tian Stahi, at Navarro.

The crime with which the police expect
to connect A. Hodgens. the stranger ar
rested on suspicion near the Wheel
ing depot Tuesday afternoon, is the
murder of Christian Stahl at Navarro
In the latter part of May. Convincing
evidence is said to be held against him
Who Hodgens is and what his right
name is are facts the police are guard.
ing with the greatest secrecy. There
seems to be no doubt that his capture
is regarded as an important one and
that he is thought by them to be one Of
the best known crooks in the coun-
try. His hearing will not be held until
all the evidence possible against him
has been secured. The poice are re-
ticent about giving out any but the most
meagre details as to what information
thoy have until several important wit
nesses have been secured.
II is certain that Hodgens is not the
only name Of the man and that he is
known to the police by several others.
He is comparatively stranger in Can.
ton although he has been here fire.
quently. When arrested by Officer
Mortensen Tuesday afternoon and
brought to police headquarters he said
nothing and submitted to the usual
search with An
AIR OF FAMILIARITY
with the method of procedure that gave
the impression at once that he had
been in the same position before. He
coolly lighted a cigarette during the
search and made no effort at conceal
ment Of anything.
He is sty lishly dressed. well supplied
with money and does not have the ap-
pearance of a crook except in the i'm.
preston of shrewdness which he gives.
Orders were given to allow him to
have no communication with anyone.
He can be held for four days on sus.
picion and the police hope by that time
to have their case well worked up
Hodgens Is said to have figured in the
Police Gazette not long ago in that
papers gallery of distinguished crimi
nails. The arresting officer admitted
Tuesday afternoon that the murder of
Stahl was what Hodgens was arrested
for and said that If the crime could be
fixed on him it would be on use for the
detectives to search any further. He
also said that there was no doubt that
the man under arrest is one of the
most desperate criminals in the coun-
try and was guilty of nearly all the
varieties of crime in the calendar.
81 have been looking for him for
months" he said, 'ieven before the
Stahl murder. Several months ago he
and two companions were In a job in
another part of the state in which he
escaped and his
PALS WERE CAUGHT.
The other two got Is years in the pen.
He seems to have made Canton head
quarters and made excursions to out
side points for the purpose of carry.
ing on his operations. believe that
when we get bis whole history we will
find VIC have one of the most desperate
men In the country"
Marshal Bour said that the man went
under names of Tom Kennedy, Tom
Davis and half dozen other names,
The mayor, like other authorities,
was reticent about giving out any
thing concerning the arrest and said
that several witnesses were to be Sc
cured before hearing would be given
him.
Hodgeus was seen by News-Demo-
crat reporter Wednesday afternoon but
refused to make any statement. He
professed ignorance of what he had
been arrested for or on what charge he
was really being held beyond that of
suspicion.
Christina Stahl. the sister of the
murdered man and Miss Flora Stahl
his niece, both of whom were In the
room at the Stahl home when the
murder was committed, came to Can.
ton Wednesday morning and at 2
o'clock visited the city Jail and, in
company with the prosecuting attor-
ney, were given admission to the cor
ridors for the purpose Of identifying
Hodgens. Immediately after coming
out they entered the mayors Office
and were closeted with him and 1t Is
not known whether they identified him