Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-22
yards OVerpOWere
and Criminals
7 aiken
hained to a Stump,
Soaked With Oil
and Fired

statesboro. Ca, Aug. with their
ltning saturated with kerosene,
-ithing and twisting in agony,
roaming TO heaven for mercy that
mob would not show, Paul Reed
Ia VIII Cato. negroes. two Of the
incipals in the murder and burning
Henry Hodges. his wife and three
their children six miles from States
no three weeks ago, were burned at
ne stake yesterday. A determined
l1t charged on the courthouse in the
reuCuu. overpowered the military
1ard. secured Cato and Reed, who
al been found guilty after a legal
tai and sentenced 10 be hanged, took
lem two miles from StatesbOro and
Iere burned them alive. The climax
anne quickly, Unexpectedly.
Quiet Before Storm.
The forenoon passed quietly. the
iaI al Paul Reed. ringleader in the
.urter. being concluded and a verdict
e guilty rendered. Both he and VIII
alto. found guilty the day before,
ere sentenced to hang September 9.
% the conclusion Of the trial OF Reed
e. prisoners were hustled into the
ttuess room where a strong guard OF
uitary was mounted over them.
Tall Man Infsues Mob.
The spectators left the courtroom
ID from the lawn outside many
uered the Railways. About / o'clock
crowd was addressed BY a tall man
no seemed TO infiame Il greatly. He
He'd on those about him 10 follow
mi. Then Captain Hitch Of the Ogle-
1rue light infantry. in command OF
e forces. realized that the situation
IS desperate and posted guards on
oh Of the stairways that led to the
or above. where the prisoners were
1fned. With fixed bayOnets but IN
lded rifles the guards stood. The
D surged toward them but were re-
tsed several times.
Brother 5egs for Peace.
At the rear stairway the gravest dan
threatened. Prominent men,
oug them Rev. Hodges. a brother Of
murdered man. addressed the
wd and begged them to dispense.
riff Eendrick cautioned the crowd
inst violence and pleaded with
m to leave, saying:
There are others TO be brought to
tice and only from the information
be gained from Cato and Reed can
bring the right ones TO justice"
Mob Demands Pledge.
Promise US yOu VIII let the men
y in the StatesborO Jail and not be
zen 70 Savannah Then we win dis
-se. not until then" shouted some
iu the crowd.
Soldiers With Empty Guns.
Presently some % men crowded
7uud the guards. They caught two
ards. wrested their weapons from
I'm. threw open the breech locks and
Certafned that the weapons were
1pty- The captured soldiers were
IA prisoners. and man after man.
Izht and isolated. was relieved OF
rifle after a struggle.
At the front. a member Of the mob
ert along the wall until he got close /
the guards and threw himself upon
EN-. I'm this breach thus formed his
npaniOns threw themselves. Two
l1dred cheering men followed him
Ia soon the soldiers. though they
u=ht desperately and inflicted bayo-
4 wounds upon some Of their assail-
ITS. were overpOwered.
Murderers Dragged Out.
The small guard about the prisoners
r.rfrew into the room. closing the
rCr The mob crushed against il,
usting il like an eggshel. Cato and
ecu were dragged out.
Reed was taken down one stairway
q q rope about his neck. Cato down
lother. both pleading for their lives.
BY this time the crowd numbered
|G. The doomed men were dragged
1uE the roadway leading TO the
edges homestead where five mem
DTS Of the family had been murdered
ia burned. That was the destina-
ON.
Mob Becomes Weary.
The heat was so intense that the
.0wd wearied when two miles Of the
ute had been traversed. Going rs