The courier-index., 1917-09-28
Dan Hodges, Negro, Killed at
 Gassett by Wayne Murdock

At Gassett on Tuesday morning at seven o'clock Wayne Murdock we'll known young white man, brother-in- law of J. B. Hood, shot and instantly killed Dan Hodges, negro. The weap- m used was an automatic shotgun. A full load of large shot was dis charged in the negro's head. The tragedy occurred in the trent part of J. B. Hoods store, the negro fall. ing on the porch. Murdock imme- diately left Gassett and walked to Brickeys, from which place he phoned to Sheriff Cotter. Later Murdock came to Marianna and has since been in the custody of the officers. His examining trial will be held here today before Esq. l.. M. Brewer of St. Francis township.
 According to Murdock's story as told to a representative of the Cour- ier-Index, he and Hodges had dis agreed over the settlement of a
 
 Hodges Murdock says on Tuesday morning early Hodges came to the store and demanded ten dollars he claimed was due him. Murdock states Hodges had his hand on the butt of his pistol, and that he could plainly see the outline of the barrel in the negro's pocket. He says the negro used vile language to him and de- manded the money under threat. Murdock went to the cash drawer and threw ten dollars in silver on the counter. While the negro was counting the money Murdock says he slipped to his room on the right of the store as one enters the building and grabbed his shotgun. By this time the negro had advanced until he was even with the doorway. Murdock says he pointed the gun at him and commanded him to throw up his hands, whereupon the negro whipped out his pistol and fired. Murdock says he felt the ball pass his head. He then fired at the negro, striking him in the forehead with the load
 Sheriff Cotter, who went to Gas sett soon after the killing, and who was present when Esq. l.. M. Brewer held an inquest over the remains of the negro, says very little evidence was produced showing just what oc- cured in the store One negro who was in the store says he heard two shots An examination of the prem ises showed a ball penetrated the wall of the office on the opposite side from Murdock's room. Sheriff Cotter found the ball on the inside of the office. He states, however, If the negro fired the ball he shot wide of his mark, because Murdock was in his room on the other side | of the hallway between his room and the office.
 In making his search for evidence Sheriff Cotter found forty quarts of liquor alleged to have been the property of Murdock and another party. The sheriff found one or two | quarts of whiskey and several quarts | of wine in Murdock's room, and more than thirty quarts of booze in the garage The sheriff is in possession | of information that caused him to lodge charges against Murdock Tor bringing whiskey into the state III violation of the bone dry law and Tor selling liquodr contrary to the pro- hibition law.
 At the examining trial today only the murder charge will be heard Murdock will be represented by h D. Smith, while Deputy Prosecuting Attorney D. D. Hummer will repre- sent the state.
 Mir and Mrs. J. B. Hood were III Memphis at the time of the killing The negro had been acting as chauf- feur for the Hoods. Only recently ne lost control of a new Mitchell car ana drove f off the ferry into the St' Francis river at Cody.
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