The Bourbon news., 1904-08-19
BURNED AT THE STAKE
Will Cato and Paul Reed Put to
Death by a Mob.
The Men, After the Legal Trial, Were
Sentenced to Be Hanged Septem-
ber 9 and Were About to Be
Taken to Savannah.

| in the murder and burning OF Henry
Hodges and wife and three children,
six miles from Statesboro three weeks
ago, were burned at the stake Tues
day.
Tuesday afternoon at 1:21 o'clock a
determined mob charged on the court
house, overpowered the military guard,
secured Cato and Reed, who had been
found guilty after legal trial and
sentenced to be hanged September g.,
took them two miles from Statesboro
and there burned them alive.
When the attack on the guards was
made Rev. Mr.. Hodges, brother of the
murdered man, pleaded with the crowd
to let the law take it's course, but his
advice was unheeded.
The small guard with the prisoners
withdrew into the court room and
closed the door. The mob crashed
against it, bursting it as though it
were an eggshell. Cato, Reed, Handy
Bell and the other prisoners covered
before the crowd. They dragged Cato
and Reed out, releasing Bell into the
hands of the few soldiers left there
as soon as they learned that he was
not Reed, for they had mistaken him.
Reed was taken down one stairway
with a rope about his neck and Cato
down the other, both pleading for
their lives. BY this time the crowd
numbered 500 persons. The doomed
men were dragged, the crowd shout
ing and cheering, along the roadway
leading to the Hodges homestead.
Going Is yards from the road the
crowd halted. The two Negroes were
made to seat themselves on a log.
They were told they had but short
time to live and that they should con-
fess. Reed was the first to speak. He
confessed, duplicating other Negroes,
as he had in the court room. He de-
MED, however, that he had taken an
swered incoherently. The crowd
moved across a field to a strip of
woodland.
To a large stump IL feet high the
men were chained with their backs to
the stump. Then wagonload of pine
wood was hauled to the spot. 1t 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 burning
Then followed an awful scene. Fren-
zied cheers rent the air as men al
hot Of
being punished saw the cruel flames
drinking up the lifeblood Just as the
match was applied to the pyre one of
those in front asked Reed if he wanted
to tell the truth before he died.
"Yes, sir; I killed Mr.. and Mrs.
Hodges" he replied.
"Who killed the children?" he was
asked.
Handy Bell" came the response as
the flames leaped upwards. The spec
tacle was frightful AS the flames
touched Reeds naked, oilsoaked skin,
he twisted his head around in an en-
deavor to choke himself and avoid the
fearful torture Only once did he
| complain. He said: Lord, have
mercy"
Cato screamed in agony and beg
! ged to be shot. His heavy suit of hair
which was oilsoaked 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 terror ran through the
| frames of the more timid of the spec
tators. 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
fiery tongue. BY effort almost super
human he writhed under the close"
locked chains.
He was the first to exhibit uncon-
sciousness and was perhaps the first
dead. Before the flames progressed
very far up his body his head sank
forward and many believe that the fire
got into his lungs and killed him. AS
Cato's head swung to and fro some of
the more excited members of the par
ty commenced throwing light wood
knots at it. AS soon as it was seen
that the men were dead the crowd
commenced dispensing. A large num-
Der remained behind, however, piling
more fuel on until both bodies were
burned except the trunks.
Late Tuesday afternoon after the
last member of the mob had left the
scene, hundreds of citizens who in no.
wise had participated in the affair re-
paired to the scene and many remain
ed long after nightfall picking up
whatever souvenirs they could find.
Conspicuous among the crowds were
a number of small boys in knee pants.
Savannah, Ca, Aug. 17.-It has de.
veloped upon the return of the troops
from Statesboro that the deputy sher.
ifs were in league with the lynch
ers.
Tod SIoan's Narrow Escape.
| NJ Aro T0d CIoou