The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-08-04
Father, Mother and Children
MangIed With an Ak.
CORY WORK OF ROBBERS
TO Hide Crime, Inhunnan Fiends uss
Torch and Incinerated Remains
Were Found in Debris
cf Home.

The mapgled bodies Of Henry
Hodges, his wife and three children
living about six miles from statesboro'
Ca, were found early Friday morning
in the ruins of their country home.
Neighbors discovered the house in
flames after midnight Thursday night.
but the fire had made such headway
that 1t was impossible to render any
aid. As none Of the member. OF the
family we're seen during the fire, the
neighbors took it for granted that the
family was away from home.
At daylight the remains OF the en-
tire family were found in the ruins.
Mr.. Hodges was found with his skull
crushed in as though from the blow
Of an ak. Mrs. Hodges head and body
had been beaten with some blunt N
! strumea. The body Of little eiri
was horribly mangled. The two other
! childrsn's bodies did not show any
| signs Of violence, and it Is supposed
they were victims Of the flames ard
not the murderous blows Of their as.
| sailantS.
On pieces of timber in the yard were
| found many blood stains and bloody
finger prints.
AS there were no eye witnesses Who
we're spared to tell the awful story, no
details ere known There are many
theories, the majority being that rob
bers entered the house and upon being
discovered, decided it was best to iii
the entire family.
The work of the flames was com.
plete. all it is impossible to ascertain
whether or not any booty was secured
by the robbers, If, indeed. the ass I'LL.
| ants were robbers.
Mr.. Hodges and his family held the
confidence and respect Of the entire
community and no motive can be adj;
vanced except the robbery theory.
There is great excitement in the
neighborhood of the crime and officers
Of the county are now at work on the
case.
It developed Friday afternoon that
Hodges went to a neighbor's about 9
O'Clock. He went to bring his little
child back who had been spending the
day.
It is believed he was met at the
gate by the assailants and killed there.
and that his body was dragged into The
house. There are many indications OF
a struggle at the gate and blood STAINS
are on the gate post.
Friday morning a lamp was found
sitting on the gate post. A horse ana
buggy was also found hitched to tree.
in the back yard.
The tcdy Of Mrs. Hodges was found
near the fireplace.
All the bodies were dressed, indicat-
ing that the crime was committed ear.
! ly III CuS US1O1 oAy " ShS As>AeAAAS
had retired.
As the fire was not discovered unH
midnight, it is believed that four hours
after committing the Killings, the rob-
bers welt back to the house and act
It on fire to conceal, if possible, their
act. Hodges was a prosperous farmer
and one of the best citizens Of Bulloch
county He was in good circum.
stances. 1t is not believed that he had
an enemy in the world. ~
The county sheriff and large posse
Of friends and neighbors left Sta,es.
boro at once for the scene Of the
crime. They carried bloodhounds.
Tracks were found throughout the
field leading towards turpentine3
camp. The tracks led in the directions
Of this camp, which had been occupied
by negroes for several days. The