Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-17
Sentence of Death Had
Been Passed Upon
Two by Court.
MILITIA OVERPOWERED
Confession of One duplicates
Third Who Meets Same
Fate.

Savannah. Aug IA telephone
message from Statesboro says Handy
Bell. the negro implicated as ring
leader in the murder of the Hodges
family. was burned at the stake two
miles from Statesboro last night.
Statesboro. Ga. Aug. l7.-Every-
thing is quiet here today. There is no
confirmation of reports of other lynch
ings last night.
Dragged From Court Room.
Statesboro. Ga, Aug. 17.-Dragged
from the court room in which they had
but few moments before been sen
fenced to death and taken from II
company of state troops bearing rifles
that were not loaded, Paul Reid and
VIII Cato. negroes, were burned at
the stake yesterday afternoon by a
mob
Fight Soldiers.
The Iynchers secured their victims
after Il hand-to-hand fight with the sol
diers, in which several of the latter
were wounded.
Ten other negroes, held in jail as
suspects, have been placed under Il
strong guard because of fears that the
mob may try to lynch them also, and
reinforcements of militia have been
ordered here from Savannah.
Under Death Sentence
Cato and Reid had been sentenced
to be hanged Sept 9-the nearest date
the law would allow - after having
been found guilty of killing the Hodges
family July 2S. Hodges, his wife and
a little girl were slain with an AK, and
their house was burned over their bod
les, two other children being burned
to death while asleep Cato's trial
ended Monday and Reid's yesterday
morning. Since the proceedings be-
gan the mob had been threatening, but
it was thought that the prompt manner
in which the cases were disposed of
might avert n lynching.
Climax Was Sudden.
The forenoon had passed quietly,
but the climax came swiftly and un-
expectedly After the military guard
been overcome the condemned men
were seized and taken to the scene of
the crime. They were told that they
had but short time 10 live and that
they should confess.
Reid made a confession and implica-
ted several other negroes, as he had
during the trial Several members OF
the mob climbed to the branches of a
tree and called for ropes.
Cries of "Bmrn Them"
Burn them, Burn them" shouted
the crowd. Cato begged to be shot or
hanged, saying he was innocent Some
of the more humane wanted to grant
his request, but they were in the
minority. The rest wanted TO visit the
same death upon the negroes that they
had visited upon the Hodges family.
A member of the mob made speech
recounting the horrors Of the crime.
This in1amed the crowd to a burning
pitch. TO a large stump 10 feet high
the men were chained, with their backs
70 the stump. With trace chains the
men were lashed 10 the stump.
Then a wagon load of pine wood was
hauled to the spot. It was piled
dIDulu llc men anu " BdiIDHS vi htIO-
sene was thrown over them.
Cheers From the Mob.
Cheers rent the air as men, almost
craZed with hatred Of the accused, saw
the flames spread Just as the match
was applied to the pyre one Of those
in front asked Reid if he wanted to
tell the truth before he died.
Yes, sir; / killed Mr. and Mrs.
Hodges he replied.
Who killed the children?" he was
asked.
Handy Bell" came the response, as
the flames leaped upwards and further
questioning was impossible in the tu-
multi AS the flames reached Reid he
twisted his head around in an endeavor
TO choke himself and avoid the tor
ture. Only once did he complain. He
said: Lord, have mercy"
Cato begged that he be shot, but
this mercy was denied him.