The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-03
A FAMILY MURDERED
And the Bodies Burned With the Raft
ers of Their home.
WAS A MOST HORRIBLE CRIME.

WAS A MOST HORRIBLE CRIME
The Husband Was Murdered at the
Gate and His Wife, Who Ran
to His Rescue, Shared
the Same Fate.
A dispatch from Statesboro, Ca, to
The Augusta Chronicle says that
Statesboro and Bullock county were
horrifed Thursday over diabolical
crime which was perpetrated at the
home of Mr.. R. Henry Hodges, seven
and one half miles west Of States5oro.
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 prosperous
farmer and good citizen, was last seen
alive Thursday evening about 8
o'clock at the home of Mr.. Isaac
Akins, with whom be stopped a few
minutes on bis way home from the
school house. He had gone to the
school for his little daughter, who was
delayed by a heavy rain from coming
home.
Mr.. Hardy Moore, who lives a 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 be could. He found the
house nearly destroyed and could find
no trace Of Nh. 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 a 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 were found burned beyond
recognition and the skulls OF all were
crushed. 1t is tho1ght that the mem
bers Of the family were murdered,
the house looted and burned.
There was a lamp found bu ming at
the front gate after the neiehborS
had gathered. 1t is supposed it was
LETT by the murderers in their haste
to get away after searching the
house. The signs Of struggle at the
gat> 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
his life and was murdered by having
his head crushed with some heavy in
strument. His body was carried in
the house and his wife and children
were brainsd and the home fired to
cover the crime.
Business has been suspended at
Statesboro and the citizens OF the
town and county are exerting every
effort to apprehend the guilty parties.
II orertaken it is very likely that
there will be a lynching bee in Bui-
lock county, as the people are much
wrought up. Mr.. Hodges was indus
trious and frugal and was thought to
have 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
Mr.. Hodges was seized some distance
from his dwelling and struggled for
his life until he reached his gate,
when he was 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
be was penning up his COWS when he
was attacked. The robbers likely did
not expect to find him out OF the house
at 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 sfrom the
house to the gate, and it 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 both bodies carried in the
house and the house searched for
money, the children killed and the
torch applied.
The bodies were all found in one
room, the man, woman and oldest
child occupying positions opposite to
where the beds were, which shows they
were lert lying on the floor. One OF the
smaller children was in the remains OF
the bed and the other in cradle. MI.
Hodges was struck only on the back OF
the head, while his wife was struck on
the forehead ard the back part, the
top OF her sku:l being nearly severed.
Mr.. Hodges Ak was found near the
bodies. The bloody work was done
with this instrument. There had been
rain Just 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 the
house acrvsS corn patch Of person
wearing small dress shoe and one
barefooted, but having small feet.
Sheriff Kendrick put his dogs on the
track and run it of from the house
apiece and found they took the run OF
a branch hundred yards OF so, but
the dogs had no trouble in finding the
scene anew and were running it wher
the Chronicle man left, and it is
thought the criminals will be caught.
PEOPLE are present from all over the