The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-08-24

talked about and soon reports of
boarded money were told. 1t was
even said that Hodges had pot OF
gold hidden in his front yard. With
the coming of the dawn on Friday,
July 20 the whole community was
shocked by the story Of the crime.
Shortly after midnight neighbors dis
covered. the home Of Mr.. Hodges in
flames. The home is just six miles
from Statesboro. Rapidly neighbors
and friends gathered to render assis-
tance. Instead Of a home just afre
they found the house almost destroy
ed. Members Of the family were no
where to be seen.
SCENE OF HORROR.
Closer investigation, as daylight
opened the way, showed a horrible
scene. Mr.. Hodges was found with
his skull crushed in as though from
the blow Of an axe.
Mrs. Hodges head and body had
been beaten with some blunt instru-
ment.
The body OF a little girl was horrib-
ly mangled.
The two other children'S bodies did
not show any signs Of violence, and 1t
is supposed they were victims Of the
flames and not the murderous blows
of their assailants.
On pieces Of timber in the yard
were found many blood stains and
bloody finger prints.
STRUGGLE WITH AssAILANTs.
1t developed that Hodges went to a
neighbor's about O'Clock the same
night to bring his little child back,
who had been spending the day.
1t is believed he was met at the
gate By the assailants and murdered
there and that his body was dragged
into the house. There were many in
dications of a struggle at the gate and
blood stains were found on the gate
post.
A lamp was found sitting on the
gate post. A horse and buggy was
also found, hitched to tree in the
back yard. The body Of Mrs. Hodges
was found near the fireplace. The
body of the Oldest child was discover
ed on the front porch.
All the bodies were dressed, indicat-
ing that the crime was committed
early in the night before the family
had retired.
BLooDHoUNDs ON TRAIL.
AS soon as the crime was made
known, a large posse was formed and
b]oodhoundS put on the trail.
AS reported at the trial, the blood
hounds followed the trail during the
day to a picnic, at which several hun'
dred negroes were assembled. With
out warning the dogs pounced on two
negroes. The officers ran to the dogs
and in attempting to arrest the two
negroes they were Immediately sur
rounded by the crowd. The crowd
sought to prevent the arrest OF the
two men and the officers drew their
guns.
Within short time thirteen ne
groes were placed under arrest and
carried to the Statesboro jail.
Prior to the arrest Of the thirteen,
Paul Reid and his wife and Will Cate,
other negroes, were placed in jail. In
confession made later by the wife Of
Paul Reid she declared her hus.
band and Will Cato committed the
murder.
NEGRO WOMAN CoNFEssEs.
The woman told a narrowing tale
of the crime. She was anxious, she
said, to make a clean breast Of the
whole matter and would have done 80
before, when she heard of the murder
being planned, but she was afraid,
she said, that her husband would kill
her. The woman said that her hus-
band Will Cato were impressed that
Mr.. Hodges had about $500 in money
and had planned to kill him and rob
the house the Saturday night before.
They went to the house, called Mr..
Hodges out, but their courage failed
them and as an excuse asked for some
spirits OF turpentine.
They were still resolved to try the
murder again, the woman stated.
She heard them plotting during the
week. She said her husband and Will
Cato left the house together on the
night Of the murder and she thinks
there were two or three others With
them, but did not know who, as they
never came into the house where she
was. They we're gone about an hour
and half. When they returned, her
husband said he had committed an
awful crime, anc was in trouble about
it. They said they had killed Mr..
Hodges and wife and two children,
but remembered that the little girl
had escaped and would tell who they
were.
According to the woman, the ne
groes then returned to the house and
found the little girl hid behind a
trunk. She pleaded with them TO
spare her life, but her pleadings were
in vain. a blow from an axe ended
her life. The woman then said the
bodies of the five victims were then
piled In a heap and the house set on
fire.
There was great excitement follow
ing the woman's confession and
threats OF lynching were heard on al