Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-16
\ BIBLE AGENT MURDERED.
Kicked to Death by a Pennsyl-
Vania Hotel Keeper.

A dispatch from Lancaster, Penn
sylvania, says;
The Grape hotel, or. Michael's, is
one of the Oldest hostelries in,this city,
and is widely known throughout the
country, having for many years enjoyed
the patronage Of President Buchanan,
and the reputation of being the lead
ing hotel in Lancaster. Its present
proprietor, William P. Finney, has
Just been one of the actors in a tragic
affair which has created much local
excitement. On Tuesday evening,
March 29, P. Moran, who registered
from Philadelphia, and Luther +.
Hurd, from Boston, arrived at the
Grape, and were assigned to room "a.
They were canvassing for an illus
trated bible, published and sold in
numbers, the headquarters of the pub
LEGATION being at 224 Walnut street,
Philadelphia. Some days afterward
Moran left. He did not pay his bill,
but left behind him a number of books
and other baggage, expecting to return
on last Thursday afternoon. Finney
and Hurd had words about Moran's
failure to accOunt for his board. Hurd
said he might not be back for some
weeks, but the bill might be all right,
and if not paid Moran had left ample
property to satisfy it. Hurd's own
board was paid in advance. On Thurs
day evening the subject was resumed
between them in the Office of the
hotel. Finney is a powerfully built
man, about six feet high, and weighs
$50 pounds. He is troubled with
diabetes, and is irritable and passion
ate. Hurd was a small man. in deli
cate health, not weighing 100 pounds,
and about IS years Of age. Finney
denounced both him and Moran as
pious frauds, and when Hurd expos
tulated it angered Finney, and he
reached over the Office desk and struck
him, at the same time ordering him to
leave the house. He came from be-
hind the desk and struck Hnrd
again, moving him toward the door.
Hurd tell at the door, and, as he was
on his hands and feet kicked him, as
it has developed, rupturing the ure-
thra. Hurd discovered that he was
bleeding, and enc of the boarders, a
physician, attended him and advised
him to lay down. He said he could
not stay in the house with any self
respect, but was persuaded to go to
his room, where he was attended by
Drs. Alec and Roland. His condi-
tion became worse, but no serious re-
suits were feared, even as late as 10
O'Clock last night, when the house
maids left him for the night. About
midnight, it seems, he discovered that
he was suffering from a hemorrage,
and rang his bell but got no answer,
and at I o'clock this morning the girls,
on visiting his room, found him much
weakened by a profuse hemorrhage
and his bed blood-soaked. Medical
aid was summoned, but he died in an
hour. lie was only able to say that
his parents we're dead; that he was
never married; that he had four
brothers and two sisters, of whom
Mrs. Lizzie McCann lived at No. Z
Marble street, Boston, E. P. Hurd in
Great Falls n. H, and Frank Hurd
in Springville, Me. Four hundred
dollars in government four per cent.
bonds were found among his effects,
which he expressed a wish should be
given to Mrs. MeCann. Since the
difficulty which resulted in Hurd's
death Moran has sent Finney the
amount of his board bill, thus justi-
flying Hurd's confidence.