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Henry R. Hodges, his wife and three children, living about six miles from Statesboro,

were killed last night, and their home burned.

The remains were found in the ruins of the home. There were bloodstains outside the building,

and investigation showed that Hodges, his wife, and one child had their skulls broken,

apparently with an axe.

There were no signs of an assault upon the younger children,

but they were too young to protect themselves from the flames.

Robbery is supposed to have been the cause of the crime.

Mr. Hodges was found with his skull crushed in,

as though from the blow of an axe. Mrs. Hodges's head and body had been beaten with some blunt instrument. The body of the little girl was horribly mangled.

The two other children's bodies did not show any sign of violence, and it is supposed that they

were victims of the flames and not the

murderous blows of their assailants. As there were no eyewitnesses who were spared to tell the

awful story, the details are not known. There are many theories, the majority being that robbers

entered the house, and upon being being discovered decided it was best to kill

the entire family the work of the flames was complete and it is impossible to ascertain whether or not any

booty was secured by the robbers if indeed the assailants were robbers mr hodges and his family held the confidence and respect of the entire community,

and no motive can be advanced except the robbery theory.

There is great excitement in the neighborhood of the crime,

and officers of the county are now at work on the case.

It developed this afternoon that last night Hodges went to a

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