The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-05
A FAMILY MURDERED
And the Bodies Burned With the Raft
ers of Their Home.
WAS A MOST HORRIBLE CRIME.
The Husband Was Murdere ed at the
Gate and His Wife, Who Ran
to His Rescue, Shared
the Same Fate
the Same Fate.

to His Rescue, Shared
the Same Fate.
A dispatch from Statesboro, Ga, to
The Augusta Chronicle says that
Statesboro and Bullock county were
horrified Thursday over dlabolical
crime which was perpetrated at the
home Of Mr.. r. Henry Hodges, seven
and one half miles west of Statesboro.
Mr.. Hodges and his family, consisting
Of his wife and three children, were
murdered and their bodies burned in
their home
Mr.. Hodges, who was a prosperous
farmer and good citizen, was last seen
alive Thursday evening about
o'clock at the home of Mr.. Isa 9
Atkins, with whom he stopped few
minutes on his way home from the
school house. He had gone to the
school for his little daughter, who was
delayed by heavy rain from coming
hume.
Mr.. Hardy Moore, who lives mile
and half from Mr.. Hodges place,
first saw the fire about 10 o'clock
Thursday night and went to the place
as soon as he could. He found the
house nearly destroyed and could find
no trace of Mr.. Hodges and family,
but found his mule and buggy in the
lot and supposed he must have been
at home and his body in the burning
building.
FOUL PLAY SURE.
Further investigation proved that
there had been foul play. There were
signs Of struggle and blood at the
front gate and also on the walk from
the gates to the house. AS soon as
the heat had subsided the bodies Of all
the family we're found burned beyond
recognition and the skulls of all were
crushed. 1t is thought that the mem.
bcrs OF the family were murdered.
the house looted and burned.
There was a lamp found burning at
the front gate after the neighbors
had gathered. 1t is supposed it was
left by the murderers in their haste
to get away after searching the
house. The signs Of struggle at the
gate are supposed to have been made
by Mr.. Hodges and the person or per-
sons who committed the crime. He
likely heard noise and went out to
Investigate and was seized, fought for
bis life and was murdered by having
his head crushed with some heavy in
strument. His bodyswas carried IN
the house and his wife and children
were Drained and the home fired to
cover the crime.
Business has been suspended at
| State sborO and the citizens Of the
town and county are exerting every
effort to apprehend the guilty parties.
If oyertaken 1t is very likely that
there will be lynching hee in Bul.
lock county, as the people are much
wrought up. Mr.. Hodges was indus
trious and frugal and was thought to
hayo considerable cash in his house.
Dispatches have been sent out to hold
all suspicious characters. Sheriff Ken
drick has wired to Savannah for the
Chatham county bloodhounds to as
siSt In tracking the criminals.
| KILLED AT THE GATE.
Further investigation proves that
MIR. Hodges was seized some distance
from his dwelling and struggled for
his life until he reached his gate,
when he weS knocked down and killed,
as there was blood on the fence and
gate posts. His hat was found in the
lane near his cowpen and it is thought
he was penning up his cows when he
was attacked. The robbers likely did
not expect to find him ort OF the house
ut that time Of night, but as they did
they decided to get rid OF him and
proceeded to take his life. His wife's
tracks were found coming Ifrom the
house TO the gate, and 1t is thought
that she heard the noise and came out
with the lamp to see what was the
matter, and she was killed at the gate
also, and 10th bodies carried in the
house and the house searched for
money, the children killed and the
torch applied.
The bodies we're all found in one
room, the man, woman and Oldts st
child occupying positions opposite tC
where the beds were, which shows they
were lett lying on the floor. One Of the
smaller children was in the remains OF
the bed and the other in a cradle. Mr.
Hodges was struck only Oh the back o.
the head, while his wife was struck or
the forehead and the back part, th,
top OF her skull being nearly severed
MIR. Hodges ak was found near thl
bodies. The bloody work was done
with this instrument. There had beer
a rain 'GsU before the crime was com
mitted, which will be an aid in over
taking the criminals.
DOGS TAKE THE TRAIL.
Track were found In the rear OF th,
house across corn patch of person
wearing small dress shoe aud on,
barefooted, but having small feet
Sheriff Kenirick put his dogs on tn,
track and run it Off from the hous,
apiece and found they took the run O
a branch a hundred yards or SO, bu
the dogs had no trouble in finding TIN
scene anew and were running 1t whel
the Chronicle man left, and it i
thought the criminals will be caught
People are present from all over TIN
county and a large posse Is followin,
the dogs. Two of the children mer
very small, which only makes the dee,
more horrible.
MURDERERS ARRESTED.
Savpr1l poUrpno h1ua hoo, ,xro.to.