Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-08-08
THE HARMONY FRATRTCIpE.
Particulars Of the Deliberate Murder of
Howard W. Hurd
BY His Brother, Eugene c. Hurd, in Harmony,
Saturday Morning.
Feer1ei Results OF . Family Quarrel
Shot Down Like . Dog.
Especial Correspondence Kennehee Journal

terrloie murder was committed in Har-
mony on Saturday. August 9th. About six
A. M. Eugene c. Hurd shot and instantly
Killed his brother Howard. They lived mile
and half from the village, on Main stream
road, occupying adjoining farms. Some years
since their father died leaving good property
There has been trouble about that In fact
the brothers have always quarrelied Their
mother is dead. They have no other brothers.
and only one sister. She is married and
lives in AroOstook. Howard lived on the
home farm. and was in good circums ,ances
tie owned both farms, though Eugene had a
contract to purchase the one on which he
resides.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
The crops, it is said, were put in by How =
ard and belonged to him. The barn on hi.
brothers farm was a rickety affair, and partly
torn down. Charles NJ. Coston was near
neighbor, and worked for Howard. Eugene
was also employed more or less by his brother
Thursday evening they had hauled the last load
OF hay for that day from the home farm into
Howards barn. Before they pitched it of
Eugene said to Howard, 1--WE got some bay
over home that l want to get in" Howard
replied, IL want to haul that over here, and
don't want it put into that old barracks"
Eugene then said, Il want that hay for
my horses, and lm going to have it, too"
Howard replied, I'm going to haul it over
here, and you shan't have it," Eugene who
was upon the load, jumped down saving,
You Cd On thief. You come over there
and touch that bay, and I'll shoot you As
quick as l would a snake!'' He called him
Cd d-n thief several times, and Howa I'd
said to Coston, Charles, you hear what he
says" He then said to Eugene, "Hod on,
| want you should help get this load Off
Eugene came back, pitched the load Off then
jumped from the cart and started immediate
ly for home. He took his double horse-cart,
which was in the yard, pushed it by hand
down TO the field, and began pitching on the
hay. As COstOn came across the field How ard
told him to go to putting up the hay, but
when he got there Eugene had pitched 1t
nearly all upon the cart. There was only
four or five hundred of it. C0ston then went
with Howard and raked by the side of the
road. Howard said to Eugene, Hurry up,
hurry up, Eugene, or I'll get the hay
Eugene asked Coston to help take care OF the
load, which he did, after finishing with
Howard. While he was slowing away the
hay Eugene said to him, ''Just as sure as
4
shoot him just quick as l would a snake"
Coston said, Eugene. you wouldn't do it,
Eugene replied, by God would"
THE SHOOTING.
On Friday, August 4th, Eugene went TO
Dexter after goods for Bartlett { Longfellow.
Saturday morning EugeDes colt was in the
oats, and Howard went over and drove him
out. 1t was a still, clear morning. Conver-
sation could be heard long distance. They
talked together, and what they said was part
ly heard by the neighbors. Presently there
was a very loud report and Howard fell dead
in his brothers yard about 20 feet from the
door.
Marcellus Merrill, who was in the vicinity
of the house when the tragedy occurred,
heard the dispute between the brothers, and
afterwards the sharp report Of shot gun.
was about six o'clock. Soon afterwards he
heard Nicholas Smith saying, What did you
| do it for q He supposed that Eugene had
killed Smiths dog, and, although feeling
some misgi, ings, did not approach the
house toston, the hired man, says he
heard the brothers about $50 O'Clock enga-
ged in an excited colloquy. In about Is min
utes the sharp report of a gun rang out on
the still air. Mrs. Coston Immediately call
ed TO her husband, ''Charles, Eugene has
shot How ard, and guess he has killed him.
for he don't get up Mr.. Coston immedi
ately started for the scene OF the tragedy.
running acr, as the fields. Mrs Hurd, wife
Of the murdered man, ran to meet him, call
| ing '.Charles'' as loudly as she could As
they approached the yard Eugene said, He's
dead" She replied.
You DEMON, You HAVE MURDERED Your
BROTHER
and repeated it several times. Eugene
said to Charles, do you suppose he's dead!
Coston replied, Yes he's dead, stone dead"
Eugene then said, They'll send me to States
prison. won't theyp" Coston replied, Yes"
then he said. Eugene what possessed yon to
do this9" The murderer answered, Charles.
I don't know" Then he stopped down,
pulled the dead mans shirt apart, and felt OF
his wounds He took both wrists and lifted
them round Coston said: you've moved
him. Let's carry him to the grass ground
where he'll have q decent place They
carried him and laid him upon the grass
| Coston then started for the road, but at re-
o,est of Mrs. II. remained until other par
,,es arrived Eugene spent the most OF his
time in the yard. walking up and down and
Art of il in the house. Nicholas Smith, L
/ Farrar and Liston Carr soon arrived. and
i,oston went for DR.. Mclaughlin and Officer
| Collins. Officer Collins arrested Eugene.
placed him under keepers and notified Coro-
| ner Hight of Athens.
THE CoRoNER's ISorEsr.
The coroner's jury were G. W. Fields, NJ.
C. Merrill, F. p. Pennell, Ira Smell, 5. r.
Rovd and Edwin Starbird, all of Harmony.
rho inouest was held Saturday afternoon at
the house of the deceased, to which the body
vas removed under the direction OF Dr.
McLaushIip. DIR. Mclaughlin examined the
| wound. and testified as follows: The
wound is on right breast, about two inches
from center line of breast, just below the
clavicle-bone. There are three wounds, each
| ,nr.e. fourths Of an inch to an inch across,
being within one-fourth of an inch OF each
| ntber. and about As other small wounds
sround these; the direction internally Was
| coward the left, and downward toward the