Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-17
AT THE STAKE.
Burning Of Two Negroes
in Georgia Town.
Charged With Killing Man, wife
and Three Children.
Mob overpowers Military Guard at
Court House, Secures Men, and Two
Miles Away Burn Them Alive-one
Makes Confession.

sol"'eSuoio, I'd, Aug. 16.-With clOt h =
ing saturated with kerosene writhine
in agony. and screaming to heaven for.
the mercy that the mob would NOT
show. Paul Reed and Will Cato. neg
roes. two of the principals in the mr.
der and burning of Henry Hodges and
wife and three of their children six
miles from StatesborO three weeks ago
were burned at the stake TODAY.
This afternoon, at 1.21 o'clock a de-
termined mob charged on the court
house, overpowered the military guard
secured Cato and Reed who had been
sentenced to be hanged, took them two
miles from Statesboro and there burned
them alive. The climax came quickly
and unexpectedly.
The forenoon had passed quietly, the
trial of Paul Reed, the ringleader Of
the murder being concluded and a YER
dict of guilty rendered. Both he and
VIII Cato found guilty, yesterday, We're
sentenced to hang Sept. 9.
In the trial of Reed there had been
little delay and at its conclusion the
prisoners as before We're hustled into
the witness room where a strong mill
tary guard was mounted over them.
The agitation began in the corridors
where = large crowd had collected and
military guards with fixed bayonets
were stationed along the stairways.
Rev. Mr.. Hodges. brother of the MUIR
d"red man and Sheriff Hendricks plead
ed with the mob and urged them to al
low the law to take it's course, the lat
ter declaring that the prisoners evil
dence was necessary to convict at least
five parties equally guilty. Learning
that the guards rifles were not loaded,
many of the soldiers were caught and
overcome by the mob and although they
fought desperately and inflicted many
bayonet wounds upon their assailants
they were finally overpowered. The
small guard about the prisoners with
drew into the room and closed the door.
The mob crashed against it, bursting
it as though it We're an egg shell.
They dragged Cato and Reed out re-
leasing Hardy Bell into the hands Of
the few soldiers left there as soon as
they learned that he was not Reed for
whom they had mistaken him.
Reed was taken down one stairway
with a rope about his neck and Cato
down the other, both pleading for their
lives. The doomed men were dragged
along the roadway leading to the
Hodges homestead where the five men,
bers of the family had been murdered
and burned, but the heat was so in
tense that the crowd weared when two
miles Of the siX-mile route had been
traversed. The two negroes were then
made to seat themselves on log. They
We're told they had a short time to live
ana that they should confess.
Reed was the first to speak. He con-
fessed. duplicating other negroes as he
had in the court room. He denied. how
ever, that he had taken an active part
in the murder.
a member of the mob made speech
recounting the horrors of the crime This
the crowd to the burning pitch
To large stump l. feet high the men
were chained with their backs to the
stump Then a wagon load of pine wood
was piled around the men and 10 gallons
of kerosene was thrown over them.
photographer was present and the
crowd was cleared back that he might get
several views of the men bound to the
stake and ready for the burning.
Then followed an awful scene. Frenzied
cheers rent the air as men almost craZed
with hatred of the victims saw the flames
envclop them. Just as the match was
applied to the pyre one of them in front
asked Reed if he wanted to tell the truth
before he died.
Yes. sir 1 killed Mr.. and Mrs.
he replied
"Who killed the children" he was
asked.
Handy Bell" came the response as the
flames leaped upwards. and further ques-
tioning was impossible in the wild tu-
multi. The spectacle was frightful. AS
the flames touched Reeds naked, oil
soaked skin he twisted his head around
in an endcavor to choke himself and
avoid the fearful torture. Only once did
he complain, when he said: Lord have
mercy
Cato screamed in agony and begged to
be shot His oil-soaked hair was almost
the first thing the flames fastened on,
and his screams of agony while the hemp |
rope became a collar of fire around his |
neck. sent IA thrill of horror through the
more timid of the spectators. Soon the |
rope was burned in two. his head swung |
from side to side as he endcavored to |
avoid the fiery tongues. and by an effort |
almost superhuman he wrthed under the |
close-lockcd chains For only about three |
minutes was he visible to the crowd be- |
fore the great pile of faggots made |
wall of flames which hid him from view |
He was tho first to become unconscious |
and was perhaps the first TO die. AS his |
head swung to and fro some of the more |
excited members of the party commenced !
throwing light wood knots at it, AS soon
as it was seen that the men were dead |
the crowd commenced dispensing.
EVERY COURTESY