The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-13

were now sure we were on the rlgnC trail.
Wilson was instructed to play strong on
Hodges for a confession. But, even in his
cups, Hodges never gave an inkling that he
either knew about or had hand in the
murder. He was wise one, was Hodges.
We were still fooling with the same blank
wall. AS a last resort, we finally decided
to apply psychology to the case and see if
that science would not help us to solve the
crime. So calling Hodges and Pew into my
office, l said to them:
"Boys, l am up against it. l cannot find
a clue as to who killed Hand. If l don't
find one pretty quick, l am going to hear
from General Pershing. Your Captain
tells me if any one can find the murderer,
you two can. l want you to help me. l am
going to appoint you special detectives; give
you passes so you can go anywhere at any
time; supply you with civilian clothes; let
you carry guns, in fact, am going to make
you my confidential assistants
If Hodges and Pew really did kill Hand,
they were likely to- know if there were any
witnesses to the crime, any men who sus-
pected them, and it was morally certain that
such deep dyed villains as these would move
heaven and earth to pin the crime where it
would do most good in doubly insuring the
safety they were enjoying and in trying to
convict others l had strong hopes they
would help me convict themselves.
Hodges and Pew were well pleased with
their appointment They thought they were
dealing with fool and they could easily
pull the wool over his eyes. Then again,
the passes and the civilian colthes would
allow them to have some grand times in
Bordeaux without fear of arrest by the mil
itary police.
Pew by the way was only a willing and
useful tool for the engaging Hodges. He,
too, had been a regular and in the same
regiment with Hodges for several years. and
though he had good soldierly l'ecord-that
he was made a sergeant showed that-he
was a squat, peck marked black fellow.
who could never look the soldier, and had
no such intelligence as made Hodges such
master.
With Wilson covering the activities of the
camp, and Hodges and Pew working to con-
vict the witnesses so they themselves would
be free, felt that it would be only ques-
ton of time before the necessary evidence
would be in our hands and the>trap would
be closed The answer to the question:
"Who killed Hand?, seemed to be coming
nearer and nearer.
My judgment was soon confirmed, for
within few days after Hodges and Pew
had been appointed detectives, they came
into the office with colored stevedore.
Major" said, Hodges, here is one of
the murderers."
Turning to the man, Hodges demanded in
threatening voice: "Givens, didn't you
help kill that boy Hand?"
And now, right in my own office, l was
face to face with the uncanny power of
these two men. Here was a poor ignorant
colored boy, crushed under the mysterious
influence of thees two crooks, confessing
to crime which I was morally certain he
did not commit, for Owens replied
Eyes, Major, helped kill Hand"
Carefully explaining to Owens that what
he might say could be used against him, /
again questioned him as to his guilt. Even
in the face of certainty that he must hang
for the crime, he still maintained that he
helped kill Hand. Voodoo was against me
and would never get this victim to own his
innocenc ewith Hodges and Pew around.
innocence with Hodges and Pew around.
and Pew for their quick work, saying:
"Now that we have the guilty man l will
have a court martial convened and we will
quickly settle this boy Givens."
"But, Major" interrupted Hodges. ''There
is another man in that camp that also had
hand in the killing. We will have him in
here in few days, then you can hang