The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-04
CRUSHED BY WHEELS
TROUP HODGES OF SAVANNAH MET
TERRIBLE DEATH.
SURRENDERS HIS OWN LIFE.
DESPoNDENT. HODGES THREW
HIMSELF BENEATH TRAIN.

Had spent the Might In Shnnty Near
Stntion-Tragedy Occurred Four
teen Miles From Montgomery, Ain.
Body, Horribly MangIed, Burica
ON Railroad Right of way-Papers
in Pocket OF Coat Revealed Iden-
tity-HOdges' Adventurous Life
and Pathetic Final Days.
Montgomery, Ala. Oct. AT 7
O'Clock this morning at Mount Meigs.
fourteen miles from Montgomery.
Troup Hodges. about so years old. was
struck by an eastbound passenger train
and instantly killed. Witnesses of the
tragedy say Hodges appeared to throw
himself in front of the train just as it
passed the station.
He had spent the night in a shanty
at Mount Meigs and had the appear
ance of being a tramp. He was shah
billy dressed and travel-staned.
The coroner of Montgomery county
viewed the body and directed that it be
buried. The body terribly mangled. was
put into a coffin and was inferred on
the railroad right of way, layman re-
citing a simple service.
Papers Revealed Identity.
Hodges was identified by papers in
the pockets of his coat, which he had
laid aside before jumping in front OF
the train. These papers included clip
pings from the Savannah News. dis
charge papers from the Boer army.
81
letters which indicate that he had been
a man of high character
The coroner has not announced his
verdict. He says, however. there is lit
tie doubt Hodges committed suicide.
Troup Hodges was known to a large
proportion Of the people of Savannah.
In this city he had spent most of his
life and he had many attractive and
endearing qualities that made him
friends.
He was not. however. one of those
born to succeed. He occupied vari-
Gus clerical positions in the city. and
for a number of years was keeper Of
the city powder magazine.
Two OF three years before the out
break OF hostilities in South Africa he
try, making his home in johannesburg.
position as manager of a big manufac-
turing plant and he gave his uncle
lucrative employment.
Mr.. Hodges liked the country and
made many friends. He was doing
we'll when the war broke out, and EN-
ployment and hopes of success and flu
ture prosperity all vanished in a night.
He was an ardent pro- Boer and es-
poused with all eagerness and SINGER
ity the cause of the people of the
Transvaal.
Return From Africa.
Two years ago, despairlng of condi-
lions in South Africa, he came back
to this country and to Savannah. Here
his knowledge of conditions at the
front made him an interesting CONVEX
sationalist. He attracted wide atten-
ton about this time. by taking upon
himself a quarrel that an English SYM
pathizer. living in one OF the Western
states sought to fasten upon Congress-
man Rufus T.. Lester. The Western
man had become wrought up over some
of Col. Testers Boer utterances,
and wanted to fight him duel. When
Col. Lester treated this invitation in
contemptuous silence Mr.. Hodges Of
fered to accept It.
Latterly depression and ill-health
had induced in him a desire for the use
of narcotics, which he gratified with
great injury to his constitution. Some
three weeks ago 1t was thought his men
tai condition had become impaired and
lunaoy examination was held. AS a
result of IL he was released.
On Way to san Antonio.
He left Savannah for Atlanta and
from that place letter from him was
received by his brother, j O. Hodges
of Savannah. He was supposed to be
on his way to San Antonio, Tex,
where he has a sister living. Besides
his brother in Savannah and sister in
San Antonio. Mr.. Hodges leaves two
daughters. Mrs John B. Murphy and
Miss Maud Hodges, of Midwife, Ga.
The disposition of the body was not
known in Savannah early last evening
and Mr.. J. @. Hodges wired the cor
oner of Montgomery county to care
for the remains and hold them pending
the arrival of instructions from the
family. What will be done now. in
view of all the CHASTITY and pathetic
incidents the case presnts, is not
known. The desire of the family, how
ever, is to have the body brought back
to Georgia, and K terred by the side of
Mr.. Hodges father and mother in the