The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-01
FLAMES CONCEALED
DARKER CRIME WHEN
THE HODGES FAMILY
WAS CREMATED,
Continued from First page.

Continued from First page.
home with John Hall and Sank Toll
bert. two other negroes on the night Of
the murder for the purpose Of robbery.
Cato was not along, he said. He
claimed Hall was the leader and had
gotten him to go.
He said Hall had told him he knew
where they could get a lot of money,
though they might get into trouble.
He claims the three of them went
to Hodges place together, but that
he became frightened and ran away
when Hodges appeared on the scene.
Puts Crime on Another.
The other two stayed and killed
them" he said.
(Which one Of them killed Hodges?"
asked Patrolman Collins.
Hail. promptly responded Reed.
And which one of them set the
house on fire?"
Hail." he again answered.
How do you know Hall killed
Hodges, if you ran away, as you say
you did?" demanded the patrolman.
Reed Immediately became sullen and
refused to answer any further ques-
tons. After reaching the Jail he would
not talk He had said in the wagon,
though, that they thought Mr.. Hodges
had money buried by the fence back
of the barn. 1t was there that blood
was found on the fence and a pool of
blood near By.
Hodges Dragged Into House.
Sheriff Hendricks said Mr.. Hodges
was undoubtedly killed there and aft
erwards dragged into the house. There
were marks where the body had been
dragged, he said. The bodies Of the en-
tire family were found close together
the sheriff says, showing they had all
been dragged there after being muir
dered.
Cato talks freely about the affair
though he denies that he took part in
the murder. He says Reed asked him
to go along, but he would not do so.
He admits going to Reeds house early
on the night of the murder. He says
he stayed there only a short time. how
ever, and went back home.
He states that later in the night Reed
came by his house and called him. He
says he told his wife to answer and
tell Reed he was not there and she did
so. Sheriff Hendricks says he does not
think Catos wife will corroborate the
statement.
The sheriff's Theory.
Sheriff Hendricks believes firmly both
Reed and Cato committed the murders
His belief in this is based on the state
ment of Reeds wife, who said the ne
groes went to dig up the money Satur-
day night a week ago. but were dis
covered by Hodges. They then asked
for some turpentine
She says the men declared after
wards they would get the money if
they had to kill the whole family.
There is no doubt about the negroes
going there Saturday night. Cato him
self admits this. He says they went
for the turpentine though, as a snake
had "grazed" him.
The sheriff is rather inclined to the
opinion that Reed and Cato did the
work by themselves, though he is, of
course, not sure.
That those two are the right men,
/ am certain" he said.
Their own statements. together with
circumstantial evidence, certainly
points to the two. though Reed de-
clares Colbert and Hall were the men.
Murder Was Planned.
Sheriff Hendricks says there is no
number of negroes knew of it. Until
he gets further into the case he cannot
say whether any of the others were
along when the crime was committed.
Colbert. one of the negroes implicated
by Reed, is in Jail at statesboro.
Hall will be caught at once. the
sheriff said He stated, however, he
does not believe Hall had anything "a
do with 1t, but he will be arrested
and the case will be investigated UNI
til the truth is known.
Hall, he says. has never been in any
serious trouble, and is a good negro
With the two men here there are now
twenty prisoners in Jail in connection
with the murder. the sheriff said. He
win keep at work until the matter is
sifted TO the bottom.
Were Close Friends.
Sheriff Hendricks and Mr.. Hodges
were the closest of friends and theil
families are connected by marriage
The sheriff's brother married sister
of Mr.. Hodges. Mr.. Hodges was with.
out an enemy in the world, the sheriff
stated, and robbery was undoubtedl,
the motive.
Il hated to have to protect the ne
| eroes." he said. but the duties of m,
office required 1t. II was hard TO do
but I did my duty. hate to face m!
friends, though, when | get back I,
| Statesboro."
The sheriff had not slept an instan
from the time he learned Of the murde
until after he landed his men in jai
here. He was worn out completely
AS soon as he had turned his prisoner
over at the Jail, he went TO a room an,
slept until o'clock in the afternoon
At $3.50 o'clock he left for Statesboro
sSs
ROOSEVELT BOYS IN ST. LOUIS.
WorId'e E-air C.rounds 81 o,,ge T,,i,