The Washington times., 1904-08-28
THE VICTIMS OF
Will Reed and Ed

az in keeping with the superstitions with
which they delighted to surround their
movements. Possibly 81 was suggested
TO them by the remembrance OF the
tales they had been told OF the night at
tacks upon white settlers in the neigh
boring State OF Florida made by the
Seminole Indians from the Everglades.
Preachers in the Club.
Reid was pressed for the names OF
the members Of the club" and full de-
tails Of the organization. together with
the nature Of the scheme they had pro
posed 20 follow out He declared that
the club included preachers" Golden,
Talbert and Gaines. Deacon" Handy
Bell, Big John Han. Alec Hall. WIN
Rainey. Ophelia Cato. kid" Rainev.
Harriet Rainey. besides himself and
Cato.
He claimed the three preachers
Matched the plot and that lots were
drawn TO see who should commit the
first crime. In the drawing It fell to
him to murder Hodges. He said that
there was no particular malice felt to
ward Hodges. but that he was known
70 have large sums OF money in his
possession. and il was determined TO Sc
cure this first.
When asked for the details OF the
first crime. Reid said he and Cato went
alone TO the Hodges home. Cato watched
at the fork OF the road while he ap-
preached the house. Hodges. it would
appear. heard the murderer at the door
and went 10 investigate. He was met by
A smashing blow over the head with an
ak that instantly killed him. Mrs.
Hodges heard the sound OF scufhing and
went TO her husbands assistance. carry
iDz a light, only TO meet a like fate
Reid then entered the house, where the
three children remained without a pro-
tector from the savagery OF the black
brute.
A Slayer of Children.
The eldest OF the children, a little
girl ten years of age. was found hiding
behind a trunk sobbing In her fear She
wac dragged forth 20 her knees, where
she begged piteously for mercy, asking
Reid what he wished 10 do. He told
her he wanted money. She held I'D her
little hand, rendering a five-cent piece
Please take this" shs said, at is all
have" The answer was blow that
ended at once her fear and her suffer
ing
Returning 20 Cato. Reid told him Of
the triple murder and said that they
must 60 after matches 10 burn the
house. This was done, and they return
ed together. Their stories are conflict
ing at this point, and whether they hrst
killed the two younger children. a boy
of two or three years, and an infant in
arms. or left them to burn In their
cradles is not certain. They then re-
turned TO their homes. thinking the
burning OF the house and the bodies ia
Il protected them from detection.
When these details were made public
the fury OF the people knew no bounds.
Statesboro Is n fourishlng town about
seventy miles from Savannah, and is the
center Of a rich cotton growing coun-
try. The land about the town Is low
and sandy and the roads are not kept
In good condition There are numerous
swamps OF cyprus and cedar having
many fords through them. The homes
OF the planters are Isolated and the
population is sparse Such a situation
affords little mutual protection in case
Of necessity.
Many Vicious Blacks.
The turpentine industry Of the cosyr |
try has reached largo proportions. ane
the camps have drawn TO the eection |
some Of the lowest types OF convicts and
other irresponsible blacks, whose ambi- I
ton IN life reaches no higher than tns
satisfaction Of hunger and their lower
passions.
SO great was the popular hatred OF the |
'wo negroes that a day before the trial |
a meeting was held at Stateshoro. AZ !
which II was determined that the two |
negroes should bs lynched after the
Of theIr. trIaI -.-i+h.,..4 -. |.