The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-08-26
the five members of the family had
been murdered and burned. That was
their destination.

the five members of the family had
been murdered and burned. That was
their destination.
A WEARY CROWD.
The heat was SO intense that the
crowd wearied when two miles Of the
six mile route had been traversed.
Going several hundred yards from the
road the crowd halted. The two ne
groes we're made to seat themselves
on log. They were told they had but
a short time to live and that they
should confess. Reed was the first to
speak. He confessed, duplicating other
negroes as he had in the court room.
He denied, however. that he had taken
an active part in the murder. Cato
answered incoherently.
| The crowd moved across q field to
q strip Of Woodland. Several men
climed to branches and called for
ropes.
Burn them, burn them" shouted
/ the crowd.
Cato begged to be shot or hanged,
saying he was Innocent; that he had
had no hand in the crime. 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 inflamed the crowd to the burn
ing pitch. TO large stump, IL feet
high, the men were chained with their
backs to the stump. With trace chains
the men were lashed to the stump.
Then wagOnload OF pInewood was
hauled to the spot 1t was piled around
the men and ten gallons of kerosene
was thrown over them.
GEORGIA CoIN-CHAsER.
A 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
The scene which followed beggars
description. Frenzied cheers rent the
air as men, almost crazed with hatred
.. the men being punished, saw the
cruel flames drinking up the life blood.
Just as the match was applied to the
pyre one Of those in front asked Reed
didn't he want to tell the truth before
he died.
Yes, sir; l killed Mr.. and Mis-.
Hodges" he replied.
| who killed the children?" he was
asked.
Handy Bell" came the response, as
the flames lept upwards and further
questioning was impossible In the
wild tumult. The spectacle was
frightful. AS the flames touched
Reeds naked oil soaked skin he twist.
ed his head around in an endeavor to
choke himself and avoid the fearful
torture. Only once did he complain.
He said: Lord have mercyw
Cato screamed in agony and begged
that he be shot. His heavy suit of
hair which was oil soaked was almost
the first thing the flames fastened on,
| iiaacti ,ejrry, N hiie
the hemp rope became q collar Of fire
around his neck. A thrill of horror
ran through the frames of the more
timid. Before the flames had quench-
ed Cato's life, the rope was burned in
two and his head swung from side to
side as he endeavored to avoid the
hery tongue. BY efforts almost super
human he wrlthed under the close
locked chains For only about three
minutes was he Wis BILE to the crowd
before the great pile OF fagots made
wall OF flame which the wind wiped
around on Cat1's side and so hid him
| from view.
sAVAdERY IN DETAIL.
Reed was the first to exhibit uncon.
sciousne and was perhaps the first
dead. After the flames had progress
ed very far up his body his head sank
forward and many believed that the
fire got into his lung and killed him.
AS CatO'S head swung to and fro same
or the more excited members Of the
party commenced throwing lighJWood
knots at 1t.
AS soon as 1t was seen that the men
we're dead the crowd commenced dis
persing. A large number remained
behind, however, p'ling more fuel on
until the bodies were burned except
the trunks. They employed them.
selves In thrasing out the ire which
commenced spreading along the
streaks Of pine nee cdlcs.
Late Tuesday afternoon, after the
last member OF the mob had left the
scene, hundreds Of citizens who had in
no wise participated in the execution
repaired to the scene and many re.
mained until long after nightfall pick.
ing up whatever souvenirs they cOull
find. Conspicuous among the crowd
we're number Of small boys in knee
pants.
REEDS CONFESSION.
Both negroes made statements be-
fore they died. Will Cato reiterated
the statement made few days ago
that he was only a guard In the cane
patch while the murder was being
committed. Paul Reed said that he
did all the killing and that VIII Cato
told the truth when he said he watch
ed In the cane patch. He said he did
not Kill the children; that they were
burned to death when he fired the
house. lie told how lie found the lit
Tile girl, Kittie, behind trunk and
pulled her out. She asked him what
he wanted aud he told her money.
She offered him cents, all she had,
and lie told her he would not hurt her.
She fell back behind the trunk. He
said he then piled the bodies OF Mr.
and Mrs. Hodges together and poured
kerosene Oh the n and then fired the
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