The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-29
MRS HODGE CONFEssEs
Gives Herself Up To Authori-
ties in Michigan.
ADMITS SHE KILLED RYAN
But, She Declares, He Attempted to
Assault Her-Says she was Travelling
With Him.

Grand Rapids, Mich. July ga
young woman giving the name of Mrs.
Aurora Hodge, her age 10 and her
home Denison. To-, entered the Office
of Superintendent OF Pol e Carr to-
day and said she wanted to give her
self up, declaring that she had killed
man near Salt Lake City. Utah on
July IL last. She said she had parted
from her husband few moaths after
their marriage, and went with q
travelling medicine vender as his book
keeper
''when on lonely road near Salt
Lake City July l. )" she said, he at
tempted to assault me and | shot him
with revolver l had been carrying
left him in the wagon and went to
Salt Lake City to give myself up, but
my nerve failed me and | took train
for Denison told. my brother, and
when he went TO tell the authorities /
fed to Chicago. There | secured a
position as waitress in a Spring Lake,
Mich, hotel, but could not rest with it
on my mind, 50 l came to Grand Rapids
to give myself up
Mrs. Hodge refused to tell the name
of the man she killed. Chief Carr is
Investigating, and the woman is in
Jail.
A telegram late tonight from Acting
Chief of Police Burbridge,, of Salt
Lake City, to Chief Carr confirms Mrs.
, Hodges. States that there is warrant
for her arrest for murder, and asks
that she be held for the Salt Lake
authorities.
Salt Lake City, July 2e-The crime
with which Mrs. Hodge is charged was
the murder OF William Ryan, a travel
ing spectacle peddler, in a canyon south
of this city some weeks ago. The
object of the murder is supposed
to have been robbery. as Ryan was
known to carry considerable money.
When the body vas found the arms
and legs were tightly bound. The
head had been crushed with some
blunt instrument.
The police of thus city have suspected
that Mrs. Hodge was connected with
the crime. and a few days ago issued
warrant for her arrest and sent it to
Denison, Iowa, for service.
Mrs. Hodge referred to in the above
| telegram, is sister of Mr. Alfred Lar
son manager of the Iowa Telephone Co.
She is quite we'll known in Denison.
having spent her younger days here.
1t will be remembered that about five
years ago she disappeared from this
place, dressed as boy. Since that
time she has travelled all over the
United States, securing employment as
an expert waitress in the leading
hotels of the country. At Ell Pass she
was married to g Mr., Hodge and, after
living together short time they were
divorced. For short time prior to
her coming to De lison she claimed to
be employed by spectacle vender as
book keeper Her brother Mr., Alfred
1 Larson had been expecting visit from
his sister and had sent her ticket and
money to Ogden, Utah. Failing to get
the same at the time she expected 1T
Mrs. Hodge went to salt Lake and
Ecame home,
For the past two weeks she has been
assisting her brother in the telephone
office On the Goth the Review received
telegram from Salt Lake. asking thai
an interview be sent TO the Tribune.
lQlS was uue uISl NEWS w Nll. LdlSoi
that there was anything wrong. or that
Mrs. Hodge was wanted at Salt Lake
and to this day he is not in full posses
sion of the facts. While he was in thu
country in the interest of his company
second telegram was received ant
Mrs. Hodge was interviewed, ant
? while seemingly considerably agitatet
said nothing that would duplicate her
Since her surrender, however it i
said that she had made virtually tn
same statements in Denison as she doe
t in Grand Rapids and that the shooting
: was in defense of honor.
The police of the city had received
j telegram to watch her movements, ant
: this was done until Thursday nigh
!. when she disappeared and was no
heard from until the news of her con
fession came out in the dailies.
She will be taken back TO Salt LAX
for trial and the case will be watche
with considerable interest.