The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-10-23
AROUSED BY TRIAL
OF GIRL FOR OLD MANS MURDER
BY NEA Service.

! WHITE CLOUD, Mich. Oct. 21.-An
| old man poisoned like useless animal;
| His dying son beaten until he ceased
TO CULVER ..<
This is the amazing lack Of valuation
of human life that is laid to Michigan's
| "Limberlost" by the. state in its trial Of
Medic Hoden, &c, on a murder charge
! here. ..---. l.
Strange stories have come out of the
Limberlost"-that isolated region OF
| swamps, stumps and barren land north
| of here-stories of disregard for law,
social customs and rights Of others in
the wilderness far from the beaten path.
But the terrible story of conditions the
state says it will now prove, eclipses all.
Accused of poisoning her husbands
father, David Hodell, because he was
feeble and required TOO much attention, .
Medic HodeH is in court Also accused
with her in the charge OF beating her
husband to death are her mother, Mrs,
Herman Dudgeon, and Robert Bennett a
farm hand.
The "Limberlost" is practically de-
serted Nearly everybody is in court
in" The homogeneous garb Of the back
woods people gives a big touch of color
to the little country courtroom where
the tragic story of swamp land life is be-
ing unfolded.
Many have been called as witnesses.
Others were drawn by curiosity, a curl
osity which even has overwhelmed fear
Of city folks" and brought some of
them to town for the first time in their
lives. ,...
Medic Hoden has confessed, officials
say, to solving the problem OF her aged
/father-in law by poisoning his coffee.
She is now on trial on this charge.
She and her mother" have also con-
fessed, declare authorities. that they
later killed Medie's husband, Ronie
HodeII, with a rolling pin.
David Hoden dropped dead last Febru-
airy as he was carrying in an armful of
wood for his daughter-tn law. His
death was ascribed to old age; no in
vestigation was made.
Three months later the Dudgeon
brothers brought word here that Romie
Hoden had hanged himself. County Of
ficers found the body hanging from
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 Dud-
geon farm and with ropes around the
necks of the two Dudgeon boys, forced
Il confession from them. The Dudgeons
said Bennett, the farm hand, killed Ho-
dell and suspended the body in the barn.
Authorities arrested the Dudgeons'
Mrs Hodell and Bennett.
Then came Medic Hodelrs alleged con-
fession.
I'VE had been quarreling, and ROME
was on cot" says her sworn statement.
las he slept, l picked up rolling pin
and hit him twice on the base of the
brain. felt sorry then, and laid down
by his side.
"Rome was still quivering, and moth
err. who was nearby, struck him again
He grew stil-so still we were frightened
and called my brothers and Bennett.
The boys took the body to the barn.
They the put a harness rein around the
necl: and tied it to a rafter and drove to
town and told the officers they found
the body that way
Attorneys for the defense are Waging
a determined battle in an attempt to
show threats and mob violence were used
TO gain the confessions.