THE DARK SIDE OF NEBRASKA
Max Spahr
Full Name: Max Spahr
County: Madison
City: Norfolk
Partner in Crime: J.A. Baird
Date of Crime: October 16, 1902
Victim: George Hodges
County: Madison
City: Norfolk
Partner in Crime: J.A. Baird
Date of Crime: October 16, 1902
Victim: George Hodges
George Hodges, a colored man about 26 years of age, lies at the home of Jane Johnson in South Norfolk, with his throat cut nearly from ear to ear. He was slashed with a razor about 11:00 last night, October 16, 1902, by one or two men who were with him. It is without doubt a case of attempted murder and robbery, and that the man is alive is owing to his remarkable physique rather than to the intention of his assailants.
He was found at 1:00 this morning half a block east and a block north of the Main street bridge by Policeman Koch and a hack driver named Billy Hahn. Billy had driven his hack past the place where the man was found and his attention was attracted to the prostrate form by his team shying. He hurried up to town and reported to Koch that a man was by the side of the road either dead, injured or very drunk.
The two returned to the place and the policeman attempted to arouse the man. He seemed to be only partially conscious, and the officer naturally thought he was very much intoxicated. After taking him by the shoulder, the man aroused enough to point to his throat. The moon was still under the eclipse and the police lighted a match to see what the trouble was. Then he discovered a huge gash across the man's throat from which blood was flowing freely. An examination of the surroundings disclosed that the man's clothing was saturated with blood and that he was lying in a puddle of the same life substance. No weapon could be found in the vicinity, with which the wound could have been made, thus doing away with the idea of suicide and settling the fact that someone had attempted to murder him by cutting his throat.
The injured man was placed in the hack and brought to the office of Dr. Munson. Dr. Mackay was called and the two physicians worked over him until 5:00 this morning. They found a gash five inches across his throat, cut clean and sharp, indicating that it had been done with a powerful blow and probably with a razor. The windpipe was cut almost in two, all the large blood vessels were laid bare and several of their branches had been cut, and the nerve that supplies the vocal cords had been severed, producing paralysis of speech.
The wound was filled with earth with which the man had come in contact during his writhings on the ground. One of the doctors stated that it was the worst looking wound he had ever seen in all his experience. The man's face wore a coating of clotted blood and his coat, vest and shirt were saturated with mud formed by his own blood mixing with the earth, in which he had been lying for two hours. The doctors found it difficult to do anything for him. His windpipe was nearly severed and so clotted that it was impossible to administer chloroform in the usual way, and it was found necessary to give it through the hole in his throat.
When he was under the influence of the anesthetic, the doctors inserted a silver tube in the windpipe, closed the blood vessels and finally placed 15 stitches in the wound across the throat. The man was weak and delirious from loss of blood when brought to them, and they gave a saline injection into the veins to supply for the loss of blood. This revived him and he was able to tell something of himself. When the doctors had finished working with him, he was taken to the city jail where he was made as comfortable as possible on a cot placed in the corridor. At that hour in the morning, another place could not be found for him, but at about 10:00 he was removed to the home of Jane Johnson in South Norfolk, where is being cared for. The doctors think his chances for recovery are favorable.
George is, to all appearances, an intelligent, hard-working man. The clothing he wore was substantial and in good condition, such as any honest working man might wear. The answers to questions were given with a thorough understanding, although it had to be done by making motions with his hands or writing. His penmanship is good considering the circumstances under which he is laboring.
He was unable to speak, but by making signs and writing, it was learned that his name is George Hodges and that he had been at work shoveling coal at the Elkhorn round house for the past month. Night before last he quit work and yesterday, he and his partner, whose name he gives as Max Spahr, a white man, were paid off. George receiving $22.00 and Spahr $12.00.
Last night they came up town with a fireman named J.A. Baird, and together they drank a considerable amount during the early part of the evening. About 11:00 they decided to visit the resorts across the river and started out with that purpose. The story secured from George is that he had about $20.00 in his pockets at this time, and that when the trio reached an isolated place, his two companions pounced upon him, cut his throat, and robbed him of his money. His statement is that Max struck him and that when he attempted to defend himself, Max slashed him with the razor while J.A. reached into his inside pocket and took the pocketbook.
He was found at 1:00 this morning half a block east and a block north of the Main street bridge by Policeman Koch and a hack driver named Billy Hahn. Billy had driven his hack past the place where the man was found and his attention was attracted to the prostrate form by his team shying. He hurried up to town and reported to Koch that a man was by the side of the road either dead, injured or very drunk.
The two returned to the place and the policeman attempted to arouse the man. He seemed to be only partially conscious, and the officer naturally thought he was very much intoxicated. After taking him by the shoulder, the man aroused enough to point to his throat. The moon was still under the eclipse and the police lighted a match to see what the trouble was. Then he discovered a huge gash across the man's throat from which blood was flowing freely. An examination of the surroundings disclosed that the man's clothing was saturated with blood and that he was lying in a puddle of the same life substance. No weapon could be found in the vicinity, with which the wound could have been made, thus doing away with the idea of suicide and settling the fact that someone had attempted to murder him by cutting his throat.
The injured man was placed in the hack and brought to the office of Dr. Munson. Dr. Mackay was called and the two physicians worked over him until 5:00 this morning. They found a gash five inches across his throat, cut clean and sharp, indicating that it had been done with a powerful blow and probably with a razor. The windpipe was cut almost in two, all the large blood vessels were laid bare and several of their branches had been cut, and the nerve that supplies the vocal cords had been severed, producing paralysis of speech.
The wound was filled with earth with which the man had come in contact during his writhings on the ground. One of the doctors stated that it was the worst looking wound he had ever seen in all his experience. The man's face wore a coating of clotted blood and his coat, vest and shirt were saturated with mud formed by his own blood mixing with the earth, in which he had been lying for two hours. The doctors found it difficult to do anything for him. His windpipe was nearly severed and so clotted that it was impossible to administer chloroform in the usual way, and it was found necessary to give it through the hole in his throat.
When he was under the influence of the anesthetic, the doctors inserted a silver tube in the windpipe, closed the blood vessels and finally placed 15 stitches in the wound across the throat. The man was weak and delirious from loss of blood when brought to them, and they gave a saline injection into the veins to supply for the loss of blood. This revived him and he was able to tell something of himself. When the doctors had finished working with him, he was taken to the city jail where he was made as comfortable as possible on a cot placed in the corridor. At that hour in the morning, another place could not be found for him, but at about 10:00 he was removed to the home of Jane Johnson in South Norfolk, where is being cared for. The doctors think his chances for recovery are favorable.
George is, to all appearances, an intelligent, hard-working man. The clothing he wore was substantial and in good condition, such as any honest working man might wear. The answers to questions were given with a thorough understanding, although it had to be done by making motions with his hands or writing. His penmanship is good considering the circumstances under which he is laboring.
He was unable to speak, but by making signs and writing, it was learned that his name is George Hodges and that he had been at work shoveling coal at the Elkhorn round house for the past month. Night before last he quit work and yesterday, he and his partner, whose name he gives as Max Spahr, a white man, were paid off. George receiving $22.00 and Spahr $12.00.
Last night they came up town with a fireman named J.A. Baird, and together they drank a considerable amount during the early part of the evening. About 11:00 they decided to visit the resorts across the river and started out with that purpose. The story secured from George is that he had about $20.00 in his pockets at this time, and that when the trio reached an isolated place, his two companions pounced upon him, cut his throat, and robbed him of his money. His statement is that Max struck him and that when he attempted to defend himself, Max slashed him with the razor while J.A. reached into his inside pocket and took the pocketbook.
Source: The Norfolk Weekly News Journal