The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-08-18

SCr1ppS-Mcha6 ISleSTdIu.
Savannah, Aug. 17.--Handy Bill,an.
other Of the negroes implicated in
the Hodges murder, was burned near
Statesboro by a mob this morning.
Awful Fate of Two Others.
Statesboro, Ca, Aug. 17.---With cloth-
ing saturated with kerosene, #rithing
and twisting in their agony, screaming
to Heaven for the mercy that the mob
would notshow Paul Reed and Will Cato,
negroes, two of the principals in the
murder and burning of Henry Hodges
and wife and three of their children six
miles from Statesboro three weeks ago,
were burned at the stake. Tuesday
afternoon, at 1:21 o'clock, a determined
mob charged on the courthouse, over
powered the military guard, secured
Cato and Reed, who had been found
guilty after legal trial and sentenced
to be hanged, took them two miles from
Statesboro and there burned them
alive.
The climax came quickly and unex
pectedly. The forenoon had passed
quietly, the trial of Paul Reed, the ring
leader in the murder, being concluded
and verdict of guilty rendered. Both
he and Will Cato. found guilty the day
before, were sentenced to be hanged
September 8. The crowd assembled
about the courthouse was not as large
as on Monday nor was it so threatening,
though for that matter there was never
much parade, the countrymen always be-
ing quiet. In the trial of Reed little de-
lay had been caused, and on its conclu-
sion the prisoners, as before, were
hustled into the witness room, where
a strong guard of military was mounted
over them.
Military Guard Repulses Mob.
In the corridors the agitation began.
The spectators left the courtroom and
ffroR-the l2xziTlso oy Us ssae many entered the
Railways. Shortly before enc O'Clock
the crowd was addressed by tall man,
who seemed to infame it greatly. He
called on those about him to follow him.
Then Capt, Hitch, of the Oglethorpe
light infantry, who was in command of
the forces, realized that the situation
was desperate. He posted guards on
each of the stairways that led to the
floor above, where the prisoners were
confined. With fixed bayonets but un-
loaded rifles the guards stood. The mob
surged toward them, but were repulsed
several times The determined effort
wasyet to be made. At the rear stairway
10
nent men, among them Rev. Mr.. Hodges,
brother of the murdered man, sprang to
the front to address the crowd. They
begged them to disperse Sheriff Ken
drick was among these. He cautioned
the crowd against violence, and pleaded
with them to leave.
Guards Captured.
A commotion at the front drew the
crowd there. This was but temporary
Presently they were back at the rear
and some 25 men crowded around the
guards. Before they could be prevented
they had caught two of the guards
wrested their weapons from them and
| thrown open the breech locks. The
weapons were empty. That was what
the crowd wanted to ascertain. The
troops had been given orders not to
| load their rifles. The captured soldiers
were held prisoners. The same policy
was followed with others of the soldiers
Man after man, caught isolated, was re-
lieved of his rifle after struggle. i
Soldiers Fight Bravely.
1f IL
crept along the wall until he got close
to the guards. He threw himself upon
them. In the breach thus formed his
companions threw themselves. Two
hundred wildly cheering men followed
him, and soon the soldiers, though they
fought desperately and inflicted bayonet
wounds upon some of their assailants
were overpowered.
Mob Secures Prisoners.
| The small guard about the prisoner:
withdrew into the room and closed the
door. The mob crashed against 1t
bursting it as though it were an egg
shell. The prisoners were at theil
mercy, all resistance having beer
beaten down. Cato, Reed, Handy Bel
and the other prisoners covered befor,
the crowd. They dragged Cato ant
Reed out, releasing Bell into the hands
of the few soldiers left there as soor
as they learned that he was not Reed
for they had mistaken him. Reed wa.
taken down one stairway with a rop'
about his neck and Cato down tn,
other, both pleading for their lives. B.
this time the crowd numbered 500 per
sons. The doomed men were dragged
the crowd shouting and cheering. alon,
the roadway leading to the Hodges
homestead, where the five members o
the family had been murdered an,
burned. That was their destination.
4 Reed Confesses.