NEWS: Owen & Shelby Hodge, slain at picnic, 1932, Bullitt Co., KY ***************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Commercial entities must ask for and receive permission from submitter before downloading. Contributed by Pat S. Date: 14 July 2002 ***************************************************************************** The Courier Journal Monday Aug. 8, 1932 PICNICKER IS SLAIN, COUSIN SHOT 9 TIMES Owen Hodge of Louisville is At Hospital with Chance to live Third Man Wounded Shooting Followed Row Over Estrange Wife of One Victim. Owen Hodge, 27 years old Crittenden Drive and Huron Avenue, was in a critical condition at the City Hospital with nine pistol bullet wounds suffered early Sunday in a Bullitt County pistol battle in which his cousin was slain, another man was shot and a group of picnickers was routed. Shelby Hodge, 27 was the cousin of the Louisville man, slain when a number of the picnickers on the Dawson Farm near Shepherdsville, engaged in the pistol battle after an argument over Shelby Hodge's estrange wife. John Fox, 26 who lived near the scene of the battle, shot in the forehead and right leg was in a serious condition at his home. James Fox 24, brother of one of the victims, was arrested in connection with the shooting by Sheriff Croan reported that he was unable to learn details of the battle from either of the Fox brothers. BELIEVE SEVERAL ENGAGED. Sheriff Croan, Coroner Everett L. Coakley and County Attorney A. E. Funk were of the opinion that "several other men whose names are not known" took part in the battle. Shelby Hodge died a few minutes after falling with five bullets in his body, it was reported. When officers arrived on the farm all of the picnickers were gone. One of them, John Brown, took Owen Hodge to Bardstown, where he was given first aid. Owen Hodge was removed to his home here Sunday morning without the bullets having been removed from his pelvis and jawbone. When members of his family believed that he was dying, they notified police, who took him to the City Hospital. He was given a chance to live. SKULL STOPS BULLETS X-ray pictures revealed four slight indentations where Owen Hodge's skull stopped four pistol bullets. A fifth bullet was lodged in his jawbone; a sixth pierced his neck, a seventh his shoulder; an eighth, his side, and the ninth bullet lodged in his pelvis. An emergency operation was preformed Monday morning to remove the bullets. Hodge was unable to talk at the hospital, and relatives who accompanied him said they knew nothing of the shooting. Louisville Police ordered that he be held in the hospital as a prisoner. Shelby Hodge was one of the five men sentenced to life imprisonment for a mob attack on Mrs. Kate Browning in May 1928. He was given a full pardon by Gov. Flem D. Sampson November 18, 1930. In granting the release, Governor Sampson said Hodge's case was not properly presented to the jury.