The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-03-02

Durham, February 25.-One Of the
foulest and most brutal murders ever
committed in this section or in the
state was done at West Durham last
night at midnight, when John H..
Hodges dragged his wife from her sick
bed and shot her to death.
The six children of the mother wit
messed the murder and were afraid to
speak when the brutal father and hus-
band drew his pistol and fired the fat
al shot into the heart of his wife and
erstwhile companion. One son, the
Oldest, did enter protest and did what
he could to prevent the terrible deed.
Stand back and shut your mouth,
said the brutal demon. eff you say
a word 1 will kill you. With this the
father and husband knocked back the
son and he fell to floor. This was be-
fore the. murder, but while Hodges
was trying to shoot.
81 knew wien | decided this house
and lot to you, Miss Matte" said the
demon, that you would kick me out
81 did not" pleaded the helpless
wife. 81 have been very sick and am
sick now. All | want is for you to be
good and do right. You can have the
house and lot" she said, this being &C
cording to the statement of her eldest
tson, who heard the entire matter.
you can take this" he Kissed. The
shot fired. A life ended.
Within two hours he was arrested
and locked up in the police station.
He was arrested on Duke street by
Sergeant Aldridge and Policeman
Gates. When first arrested he admit
ted the terrible crime and said he was
glad of it.
Soon after the arrival of the coroner
a jury vas summoned and an investi-
cation held. 1t was a short investiga-
ton, because nothing further was
needed. One witness was examined.
That witness was Fred Hodges, son of
the murderer and murdered man. He
was in the room when the struggles
began. In fact the six children. four
daughters and two sons were all in the
room at the time.
Fred Hodges told his story. He
said that he was in bed sleeping and
that in the room was his Unther and
one brother and four sisters. He is
10 yearS of age. He did not know how
his father entered the room.
The first that l knew said the
witness. was when I heard my father
talking. He was sitting On the side
of the bed. l heard him say, Miss
Matte, 4 knew when | decided you this
house and lot you would kick me cut
Mother pleaded. She said: L did rot
Kick. you out. [ have been very SICK
AID am sick now. | want you 10 be
good and do right. You can take lack
you house and lot There was then
a struggle. Father was dragging my
mother from her bed. She was srrug-
Cling. / was in another bed and JUMP
ed out. | grabbed the hand of my
father and tried to take the pistol from
him, He turned and knocked me back
and | fell to the floor. He then turned
were struggling when I ran out TO-
wards the door to get help. I
heard father say, You AXE this
The pistol fired and the strug-
gle ceased. In a few moments
he ran from the house bare-headed and
went into the back yard and disap-
peared. One mar saw the man as he
left the house, b~areheaded and went
out into the darkness.
Hodges told the correspondent that
he had been twice married. He mar
ried first in Danville, but later there
was a divorce. He then came to Dur
ham and married Miss Matte High,
the woman last night cruelty murder
ed. This was 20 years ago. He has
had eight children. Two are dead and
six are living.
Frequently he has beer in court for
mistreating his wife and several times
the oma has withdrawn Warrants
that were against him. Recently. how
ever, Mrs. Hodges instituted suit for
divorce and that case is now pending
in the courts. He was also under peace
warrant and had not been at his wife's
home for some time.-Special to The
Observer.