The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-17
TWO NEGROES WHO KILLED HODGES FAMILY BURNED TO
 DEATH BY GEORGIA MOB

They dragged the men along. shouting and cheering along the roadway lead ling to the Hodges homestead where the five members of the family had been burned. That was their destina- ton.
 The heat was @ intense that the crowd wearied when two miles of the six mile route had been traversed. Go- ing several hundred yards from the road the crowd halted The two ne- groes were 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. implication 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 a field to strip of woodland. Several men climb ed to branches and called out:
 Burn them; burn them." shouted the crowd. Cato begged to be shot or hanged. saying he was innocent; that he had had no part in the crime. Some of the more humane wanted to grant his request, but they were in the minority. The rest wanted to visit tH6 SaIne uedtH upon thS uc6FoSo ShoS they had visited upon the Hodges family.
 Tied to Stake With Chains.
 number of the mob made a speech recounting the horrors of the crime. This inflamed the crowd to the burn ing pitch. With their backs to large stump. twelve feet high. the men were fastened with trace chains. Then a wagon load of pine wood was haul ed to the spot. It was piled around the men and ten gallons of kerosene was thrown over them
 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 5urn- ing
 The scene which followed beggars description. Frenzied cheers rent the air as men almost crazed with the hatred of 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 if he did not want to tell the truth before he died.
 'Yes, sir; I killed MT. and Mrs. Hodges" he replied.
 Who killed the children?" he was asked.
 Handy BeIi' came the response as the flames leaped upwards and further question was impossible in the wild tumult. The spectacle was frightful. As the flames touched Reeds naked oilsoaked skin he twisted his head around in an endeavor to choke him. self and avoid the fearful torture. Only once did he compalin. He said: 5.Lord, have mercy" esf s-- .7''-. -'
 A Terrifying Scene.
 Cato screamed in agony and begged which was oil soaked, was almost the first thing the flames fastened on, and,- screaming with agony while the hemp rope became a collar of fire around his neck. thrill of horror ran through the frames of the more timid.
 Before the flames had quenched Cato's life, tke rope was burned in two aud his head swung from side to side as he endeavored to avoid the fiery tongue. By effort almost superhuman he writhed under the close locked chains. For only about three minutes was he visible to the crowd before the great pile of fagots male a wall of flames which the wind whipped around on Cato's side and hid him from view.
 Reed was the first to exhibit uncon- sciousness and was perhaps the first dead, Before the flames had progress ed very far up his body his head sank forward and many believed that the fire got into his lungs and killed him.
 At Cato's head swung to and fro some of the more excited members of the party commenced throwing lightwood knots at 1t As soon as 1t was seen that the men were dead, the crowd commenced dispersing. large num- Der remained behind. however, piling more fuel on until both bodies were burned all except the trunks. Others employed themselves fin thrashing out the fire which commenced spreading along the dry streaks of pine needles.
 Late this afternoon after the last member of the mob had left the scene, hundreds of citizens. who had in no wise participated in the execution. re- paired to the scene and many remained until long after nightfa1l, picking up whatever souvenirs they could find. Conspicuous among the crowds were a number of small boys in knee pants.