The Washington times., 1904-08-17
NEGRO'S STORY
OF THE CRIME


STATESBORO, Ga. Aug. 1.-THE
murder Of the Hodges family, which
took place seven and a half miles west
Of Statesboro. on the mig Of thursday
July y. was the most horrible ever
known I'm that section Of the State
Henry r. Hodges and his entire fam
ily, consisting of his wife and three
small childr, n, We're murdered and their
bodies burned In their home by a band
OF negroes, who attempted to rob the
house.
Hodges was one Of the most prosper
Gus farmers in that part Of the State
He was last seen alive on Thursday
evening about oclock at the home of
Isaac Aikens where he had stopped
few minutes on his way from the school
house after his little niue-year-oid girl
kittie. who had been delayed ON account
Of the rain in the afternoon.
Doing His Chores.
1t is believed that after he reached
home he ate supper and went out TO
attend 10 his cows, as the signs show
while there he was attacked by three or
four more negroes. He struggled for his
life against the heavy odds until he
reached the front gate. where he was
murderer by having his head crushed
In by some heavy instrument.
His wife. on hearing the noise at the
gate, seems TO have rushed TO her hus-
Dand assistance, but only to meet with
his fate. The little nine-year-old girl
was also murdered being Drained with
an ak. The bodies Of the father mother
and little girl were placed in one room
or the house, and then the building was
set on fire. leaving the younger children
10 perish in the flames.
on the following day the investigation
Tod IN ha4 s4lsN
OF fourteen negroes. who were supposed
20 nave been concerned In the peTpetTa-
lOn or the crime. Two OF the negroes
VIII Cato and Paul Reed. are supposed
to be the ones that murdered the
Hodges family. The wife Of Reed said
that her husband and cato had planned
the murder several days before and I'm
addition 10 this statement she told the
following story Of what her husband
had told her about the killing OF the
family:
Cato Seeks Reed.
On the night Of the murder Cato went
to the house where Reed lived. Reed
and Cato went of about o'clock, and
stayed until 10. at which time they re-
turned TO get some matches. After sup
plying themselves with matches they
went of again. When Reed returned
the next morning he told his Wife that
he had helped to commit an awful crime
and proceeded TO tell her what ne had
done. warning her at the same time
that he would Kill her II she ever told
anyone. He told her that ne and Cato
had attempted 10 rob Hodges. and in
their effort TO eNtOrt from him the place
where his money was. they had killed
him. and that his wife hearing the
noise at the gate had rushed out with
"a lighted lamp. on seeing what was
the matter she started 90 run back 10
the house. but they caught her al the
dOorsteps, and murdered her there.
Go for Matches.
In the meantime the lamp had gone
out at the gate. where Mrs Hodges
had left IL. and being unable 20 search
the house without a light they went
back 70 Reeds house and got matches.
returning TO the scene of the tragedy.
When they reached the house they pro
Ceeded 10 search il. and I'm their search
found the little girl hidden behind a
large trunk She smiled and asked them
what they wanted, and they told her
they wanted money. Then she held up
10 them a j-Cent piece and told them that
was all the money she had. 0ut that
she would give them that II they would
spare her little life. but The bTutcS
would not hea~ her plea for mercy and
crushed her head with an AK. leaving
her body beside that of her dead mother.
Then they set fire TO the house To cover
up the signs Of their crime
There was evidence TO corroEorate Ill
Of this statement. II IS also believed
that Mrs. Hodges was teloniously as
sa ulted.