Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-05
An Eartbauake and a Murderer.

S.-F. Chronicle, July 4th.
Many things have been said and written
upon the subject of earthquakes and their
peculiarities, but so far no person has ever
had the hardihood to characterize one as
being useful and beneficial to mankind.
Such is the case nevertheless and has
been clearly proved so by a recent occur
renee in one OF the criminal Courts of this
city. The incident is well worthy of being
placed on record. 1t was on the morning
of May 26th, this year, that the jury trying
Harry Huff for the murder Of Matthew I.
Eddy returned into Court after being out
all night, and asked Judge Toohy for fur
ther instructions. Just rs the Judge con-
oluded the reading of this second charge
and the Jury was about TO retire again, o
strong earthquake shock sent a tremor
| through the Old building. accompanied by
loud rumbiing noise. Among the first of
the many who rushed for the door was Jur-
or Alfred Larsen, recent arrival from the
East, now working as a clerk in whole
sale grecery-house down town. A Deputy
Sheriff intercepted his flight, however, and
conducted him, with the others, 10 the
jury-room for further deliberation. Lar
sen's pallid cheeks, trembling lips and
bulSing eyes were too evident proofs Of the
fears and misgiyings which agitated his
timid soul for the other jurors, all old Cal
ifornians to resist the temptation of accom-
plishing a brilliant stroke Of combined
policy and revenge. Larsen had been hold
ing out from the first on q verdict of ac-
quttal, the other eleven being all for
conviction of murder in the first degree.
Larsen had kept them up all night, refusing
to listen TO either argument or pleas, and
they were naturally very much inceused
about it. This earthquake shock. however,
gave them the opportunity which they
wanted, and the manner in which they
commenced playing upon his fears was
something astonishing.
"Look there, Larsen" said one of the
jurors, exetedly, as he pointed to a large
aperture in the plastered wall do you
see that crack Well, that was made by
! the great earthquake of '6S, when so many
buildings were destroyed in San Fran
cisco"
Yes, was The eager interruption of an
other, "a this old deathtrap was so badly
shaken up at that time that those iron
| girdeTs you see up there ha to be put in to
keep the walls together
"Pm getting confoundedlv uneasy ~ said
some one else, "a for the first shock is always
| followed by two or three more, and this
rotten pile of masonry is liable to 90
crumbling and crashing to the ground at
any minute. | wish was out of here
| My God r' cried Larsen, almost in tears.
% is it so bad as that? oh, gentlemen, what
shall do?''
| Come over to our side and agree to a
verdict of murder in the first degree" was
the almost unanimous chorus. Seriously
| frightened as Larsen was he would not con-
sent to this, but offered to compromise on
rnanslaughter. To this proposition, how
ever, the others would not agree a short
discussion ensued, which finally resulted III
compromise on murder in the second
degree, and verdict was rendered to that
effect Thus 1t was that simple earth
quake was Instrumental IN bringing about
the conviction of a murderer, who was af-
terwaTd sentenced to Imprisonment for life.