Carthage Evening Press Monday, February 9, 1948



GIRL, 18, KILLED - TWO BOYS INJURED IN MOTOR MISHAP

Miss Leola Hodge, Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Hodge, Reeds Route 1 Loses Life When Car Leave 71 North of Jasper --Lester Williams and Arkansas Youth in Hospital Here.

Peggy Leola Hodge, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Hodge of Reeds route 1, was killed and two other persons were injured about 1:30 o'clock yesterday morning when the car in which they were riding left highway 71, a mile and a half north of Jasper, and turned end over end several times in a ditch.

The other passengers were Lester Williams, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs Roy Williams, who live southeast of Jasper, and Bob Smith, 18, son of Carl Smith of Gravette, Ark. Both are patients in McCune Brooks hospital.

Williams, driver of the machine suffered a mild concussion and multiple abrasions and contusions on his head and neck and a few on his body. Smith received a fractured left clavicle. The condition of both is reported satisfactory by attending physicians. They will remain a few days in the hospital. They were brought to Carthage in a Teeter ambulance from Jasper. Miss Hodge also was brought to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Miss Hodge suffered a compound fracture of both legs, basal skull fracture and numerous cuts on her body. She was thrown about 100 feet North of the car.

Dr. Charles Duckett, Lamar, Barton County Coroner, will conduct the investigation this afternoon at the Knell Mortuary where the body was moved.

The three were said to have been returning to Jasper from Poundstone Hill night club near Lamar. Williams is a member of an orchestra that plays there. He is said to have been driving a Ford sedan which a Mercury engine had been installed. The pavement at the point where the car left the highway is said to be rough and is believed to have been the cause of the accident. The machine was virtually demolished.

Miss Hodge and Smith were employed at Cussin Dick's Cafe at Jasper.

Miss Hodge was born December 25, 1929 near Forest Mill. She attended Forest Mill School and the Sarcoxie High School. She was employed at the Bus Terminal cafe in Carthage until two months ago when she went to Jasper. Her parents live 10 1/2 miles southeast of Carthage.

Surviving her besides her parents are two brothers, Virgil Hodge, Reeds Route 1 and Harold Hodge of the home: seven sisters, Mrs. Charles Gisel, Jr., Neosho; Mrs. Paul Welton, Branson; Mrs. William Ward, and Mrs. Ted Griffith, Carthage; Mrs. Roy Taylor, Reeds Route 1, and Maxine and Lavon Hodge of the home.

She was a member of the North Bethany Baptist Church, east of Carthage.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Knell service home. Burial will be in Jasper Cemetery, southeast of Carthage.