The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-08-18
TWO BURNED AT STAKE
Negro Murderers Of Hodges Family
Lynched at StatesborO, Ga.
MOB oVERPoWERED MILITARY
Soldiers Were Dlsarmed After Fight
ing Desperately, and Murderers, Who
Confessed, Were Taken Two Miles
From Town and Burned Alive.

f9NsitNN'oAcf ~'tN-F -NN-f-
clothing saturated with kerosene,
writhing and twisting in their agony.
screaming 10 heaven for the mercy
that the mob would not show, Paul
Reed and viii Cato. negroes, two of
the principals in the murder and burn
ing of Henry Hodges and wife and
three of their children six miles from
Statesboro three weeks ago, were
burned at the stake,
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. took
them two miles from StatesbOTO and
there burned them alive The climax
came quickly and Unexpectedly
In the trial OF Reed little delay had
been caused, and on it's conclusion the
prisoners. as before. were hustled into
the witness room. where strong mill
,ary guard was mounted over them
In the corridors the agitation began
The spectators left the court room,
and from the lawn outside many en-
tered the Railways. The crowd was
addressed by a tall man, who seemed
to inname it greatly. He called on
those about to follow him.
A cOmmotion at the front drew the
crowd there. This was but temporary
Presently they were back at the rear
and some % men crowded around the
guards. wrested their weapons from
them and threw open the breech
blocks. The weapons were empty. That
was what the crowd wanted to ascer-
tain. The troops had been given orders
not 10 load their rifles. The captured
soldiers we're held as prisoners The
same policy was followed with others
of the soldiers. Man after man, caught
isolated. was relieved of his rife after
a struggle.
Al the front member Of the mob
crept along the wall until he got close
TO the guards. He threw himself upon
them. In the breach thus formed his
companions threw themselves Two
hundred wildly cheering men followed
him. and soon the soldiers. although
they fought desperately and inflicted
bayonet wounds upon some of their
assailants, were overpOwered.
Reed was taken down one stairway
with a roDe about his neck and Cato
down the other. both pleading for their
lives
Cato begged to be shot or hanged
saving he was innocent; that he had
no part in the crime, Some of the more
humane wanted to grant his request
but they we're in the minority The
rest wanted to visit tn, same death
upon the negroes that they had Wis
tied upon the Hodges family.
A number of the mob made speech
recounting the horrors OF the crime
This inflamed the crowd to the burning
ditch. To a large stump II feet high
the men we're chained with their backs
to the stump. With trace chains the
men were dashed to the stump.
Then a wagon load of pine wood was
hauled to the spot. Ii was piled around
the men and 10 gallons Of Kerosene
was thrown over them. Then followed
an awful scene. Frenzied cheers Teht
the air as men. almost crazed with the
hatred OF the men being punished. saw
the cruel flames drinking up the life
blood. Just as the match was applied
tn the pyre. one of those in front asked
Reed if he wanted to tell the truth be-
fore he d,ed Eyes. sir; killed Nj
and Mrs. Hodges. he replied,
"Who killed the children?" he was
asked
Handy Bell" came the response as
the flames leaped upwards, and further
questioning was impossible in the Wild
tumult. The spectacle was frightIul'
As the flames touched Reeds naked
oil-soaked skin he twisted his head
around in an endeavor TO choke him
self and avoid the fearful torture. Only
once did he complain. He said: Lord
have mercy"
Cato screamed in agony and begged
that he be shot. His heavy suit OF
hair which was Oil-soaked 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 horror ran
through the frames of the more timld
spectators. Before the flames had
quenched CatOs life. the rope vas
burned in two and his head swung
from side TO side as he endeavoreG to
avoid the fiery tongue. BY effort al
most superhuman he writhed under the
close-locked chains. For only about
three minutes was he visible to the
crowd before the great pile OF fagots
made wall of fame which the wind
wiped around on Cato's body and hld
him from view. He was the first to ex-
hibit uncOnsciousness, and was Per
baps the first dead Before the flares
progressed very far up his body, his
head sank forward and many believed
that the fire got into his lungs and
killed him. AS Cato's head swung back
and forward some of the more excited
members of the party commenced
throwing light wood knots at it.
AS soon as il was seen that the men
were dead, the crowd commenced dis
persing. A large number remained be-
hind, however. piling more fuel on
until both bodies were burned except
the trunks. Others employed them
selves in thrashing out the fire, which
commenced spreading along the dry
streaks OF pine needles.