The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-01
NaneeSS 9ffenSe Believed to Have Been Penetrated
Before the Torch Was Applied.
TRAGEDY At STATESBOR GROWS DARKER AS INVESTIGATION CONTINUES
The Two Men Who Are Believed to Have Actually
Committed the Horrible Crime Spirited
Away and Are in Savannah for Safe Keep
ing-EVidence Against the Men Held
in Custody Here Is Almost Con-
clusiVe-MIitary Is on
Guard at Statesboro.

OtdTeSOOrO.
ed to Brooklet, where they were placed
on the train.
When the fact that the negroes were
gone became known much feeling was
aroused. H. H. Moore, the step-father
of Hodges, came to town to see the
men. When he found they were gone
he expressed the opinion that had they
been here he could have completed the
proof.
brother of Hodges. who induced
the sheriff to bring the negroes back
Saturday night. declared that Sheriff
Hendricks had broken his promise to
keep the negroes here. He, in turn.
promised that there would be no vio-
lence.
Inquest Concludes Tuesday.
The coroner's inquest will be resuin-
ed Tuesday, and it is expected further
proof i'll be introduced against cato
and Reed.
A special term of court will be held
as soon as the evidence is concluded,
probably Monday week.
In the trunk of Handy Bell colored,
note given by him to Hodges for $40,
was found. 1t was uncancelled.
Though the military is still on guard
tonight and the soldiers are closely
patroling the jail, everything is quiet
No further arrests were made to-day.
For safe keeping Cato and Reed
were brought to Savannah and lodged
in the county Jail yesterday morning
by Sheriff ]. u. Kendicks of Bulloch
county, who slipped the men out of the
Statesboro Jail at o'clock in the morn
ing without even the military on guard
knowing of it.
Reed, one of the prisoners brought
to Savannah. is believed to be undoubt-
edly guilty, and Cato is at least an ac-
cessory to the crime. if not a principal,
though, Sheriff Hendricks maintains
that Cato is also one Of the murderers.
Any jury that could be drawn in
Bulloch county would hang Reed on
his own statement. to say nothing of
the statemets that his wife has made
to the sheriff and other. And, too,
there are stains on Reeds pants that
look like blood. Cato admits knowing
that the attempt to rob the Hodges
home was going to be made. though
he denies that he went along. Reed
also says Cato did not go.
Escape with Prisoners.
Sheriff Hendricks says Cato and Reed
would undoubtedly have Nesn lynched
had they been left in staBsboro. He
talked with Adjutant General Scott
over the long distance telephone Satur-
day night and was ordered by the
Governor to bring the men to Savan-
nah. The Volunteer Guards, the States
boro company, was ordered out and
We're put around the Jail
Feeling was very high. the sheriff
said, and the only thing that prevented
a lynching was the belief that the
prisoners were to be left in States
boro. He knew his only hope of get
ting the men out alive was to do so
secretly.
Just before o'clock Sunday morn
ing. the sheriff requested Lieut.. Henry
Griner in command of the company
guarding the Jail to withdraw his
men from the rear Of the jail for a few
minutes. The men were marched
around on the front side for a short
time, and the sheriff, alone with his
prisoners, slipped out the back way.
Walking them for half a mile, he took
a buggy and drove to Brooklet, ten
miles from Statesboro, where the train
was caught.
Reeds Confession.
When the train arrived here with
Sheriff Hendricks and his prisoners the
police patrol. with Patrolman Collins.
was sent TO the Union Station to carry
the prisoners to the jail. on the way
from the station to the jail Reed made
his first statement. except a short one
70 the sheriff while he was on his way
from statesboro TO Brooklet, 10 the ef-
feet that the guilty man was being left
behind.
To Patrolman Collins and the sheriff
Reed said he started 10 the Hodges
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