The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-02

States boro. Aug. 1.-At IL O'Clock
this morning the troops which had been
guarding the Jail for the past seventy
hours were relieved by Sheriff Ken
drick, as all danger of mob violence had
disappeared. The soldiers We're glad
to be freed from the strain under
which they have labored.
Under First Lieutenant H. L. Gri-
ner and later under Capt. Charles
Cone, the company performed its du-
ties in most acceptable manner, and
in spite of the lack of experience Of
most of the men. only words of praise
were heard for their work. Both day
and night the soldiers patrolled the
lines around the Jail, and kept a strict
surveillance on those who entered or
left the enclosure.
Feeling Stin High.
But the fact that it was no longer
necessary to guard the Jail does not
mean that feeling has abated in the
matter in the least. To attack the Jail
would be of no possible use now as
the negroes believed to have been the
principals in the crime have been TAX
en- to Savannah Handy Bell is the
only negro inside the Jail who it is be-
lieved had any criminal connection
with the tragedy. though John Hall,
the negro charged by Reed with COM
mitting the crime, was lodged in jail
to-day. There is no evidence against
him except the accusation of Reed.
Owing to the state of the public mind
it has been decided not to resume the
inquest tomorrow. The investigation
will be deferred to later date, osten-
sibly to give further time to collect
proof But even if the case were taken
up it would not be necessary for the
two negroes in Savannah to be brought
here. But in the present condition of
the public mind it was not deemed
wise to still further inflame it by
fresh recital of the details Of the trag-
edy
Another evidence Of the state Of the
public mind is found in the decision of
the manager of the Confederate re-
union, which was to have been held
here this week to defer it indefinitely.
DeEOIatiOn of Home.
Desolate and lonely in its desola-
ton, the ruins of the house in which
the Hodges family lived bear a silent
witness to the enormity Of the crime.
The home was situated three-quar-
which was the one in which Handy
Bell lived. It is more than a mile to
the nearest house inhabited by a white
family.
A few yards below the gate is the
place where the assailants Of Mr.
Hodges crossed over from a corn field
in which they were evidently hiding
The lower rail is crushed more than
half it's length as If trod upon heav-
lily as the negroes jumped over the
fence. The tracks would indicate that
there We're at least three involved in
the affair.
Where Bodies Lay.
Those who pass by stop to look more
closely at the spot where the bodies
were found The hasp Of his purse
and the FIVE silver dollars and other
coins found where Hodges body lay
as told in the Morning News, con-
WINGED many that the motive Of rob
berry, IL such was the original one, was
lost sight of in a more awful crime.
The silver was saved from melting by
the protection Of the body Of Mr.
Hodges, while a gold finger ring which
he wore was fused in the heat.
The picture as read by those. who
have studied the case, recalls viVidlY
the crime and the manner OF its eX-
ecution. The first weapon used, good
sized stone lies by the roadside, WITH
the dark spots of blood from the dead
mans head still visible upon it's Jagged
corner.
Used Buggy Brace.
Desiring another weapon, one OF the
negroes wrenched a brace from the
side Of the buggy belonging to Mr..
Hodges. and inflicted wounds on MIS-.
Hodges and the little girl. Later It
IS supposed that an axe was used
which was found in the ruins with
the handle burned out.
From confessions made by the ne
groes in Savannah II Is reasonably
certain that the crimes previous. to
the burning OF the house were COM
mitted early in the evening, and that
after the negroes had gone away they
returned with the idea Of concealing
their hellsh deeds by burning the
bodies.
From the roadside the body Of Mr..
Hodges was brought into the front
room and from the yard the body OF
his wife The girl was killed in the
house, while the two little children
were either Drained with the axe or
left 10 perish in the flames.
Assembling the bodies In the front
room, the bedding was pulled down
"a help In the bonfire, and the whole
sale cremation undertaken.
Hangs Like "a Pail.
Like a pail Of dark omen. the shad-
ov OF the ira agedy hangs over the town
and country So terrible was the deed
that its enormitv Is not fully realized
This is the first time any remarka Ole