South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-27
FIND WOMAN GUILTY
OF MURDER, KILLED
HER FATHER IN-LAW
Mrs. MOdie HOdsell Will Not
Be Sentenced Untii Other
Charge Is Pressed.

WHITE CLOUD. Mich. oct. 70
Mrs Medic Hodeli. cahrged with
saying her father-in-law. David Ffo-
dell. by placing poison in his cot
fee. was found guilty OF FIRST degree
murder today. The tuhy was out on
~ two hours. Mrs. HOdeil sat calm
and sxpression1ess as the verdict was
read.
She will not be sentenced until
after the completion % the murder
cases against her mother. Mrs. Alice
Dudgeon and her brothers, Lee and
Herman. for the alleged elaylng OF
Ronse HodelI. her husband.
An old man poisoned Ike a useless
animal:
His dying son beaten until he
ceased 20 qulyer--
This Is the amazing lack Of valua-
ton % human life that Is laid 20
Michiean's Lin berlost" BY the state
IN It's triaI Of Medic Hodsu. %.
Strange stories have come out OF
the Ian beriOst"-that Isolated re-
gion OF swamps, stumps and barren
land north OF reTe-storles OF disre-
gard for law, social customs and
rights or others IN the wilderness
far from the beaten path. But the
terrible story OF conditions. the state
proved, eclipses all.
Accused OF poisoning her hus-
bands father. David Hodell be-
cause he was feeble and required
too much attention" Medic Holden
row faces sentence. Also accused
with her m the charge OF beating
her husband 10 death are the moth
er. Mrs. Alice Dudgeon, two broth
ers, Lee and Hermon Dudgeon. and
Robert Bennett, a farm hand.
The "Limberlost' Is practically
deserted Nearly everybody IS N
"couriin." The incongruous garb
Of the backwoods people gives a
rig touch or color TO the little cOun-
try courtroom where the tragic
story OF swamp life Is being unfold
ed.
Many have been called as witness
IS. others were drawn by curiosity,
a curiosity which even has over
wheinningly fear OF "c.ty folks" and
grought some OF them to town for
the first time in their lives
David Hodeu dropped dead last
February as ne was carrying in an
ermful OF wood for his daughter-in-
law His death was ascribed TO old
age: no investigation was made.
Three months later the Dudgeon
brothers brought word here that
Romie Hodell had hanged himself.
County officers found the body hang
ing from a rafter in the Hodell barn.
Physicians said a blow below the
ear caused death Investigation
quietly started Suspicion spread
through the county.
In July an angry mob stormed the
Dudgeon farm and with ropes
around the necks OF the two Dud-
gecn boys. forced a confession from
them. The Dudgeons said Bennett,
the farm hand. killed Hodeu and
suspended the body IN the barn
Authorities arrested the Dudgeons.
Mrs HOdell and Bennett.
Then came Medic Hodelrs alleged
&C nfession.
We had been quarreling. and
Romie was on a cot" says her
sworn statement. LAS he slept. ]
picked up rolling pin ana MI
him twice on the base OF the brain
felt sorry then. and laid down py
his side
"Romie was still quivering and
mother. who was nearby. struck him
again. He grew still-so still we
were frightened and called my broth
eTs and Bennett.
ssThe hovs took The hody IN ths
barn. They then put a harness rein
around the neck and tied II TO a raft
er and drove 10 town and told the
officers they found the body thai
way"