The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-06-08
AURo
The Merry Ha Ha-Yhat Eurd Gave Court
When Sentenced To Life Behind the
Bars.

the Merry Ha Ha-What Eurd Gave Court
When Sentenced To Life Behind the
Bars.
Alfred, Me, June 6.-The trial of AL
fred J. Hurd, the Biddefori patrioide,
ended today in verdict Of guilty and
sentence to Thcmaston for life. Through
the day. young Hurd retained his air OF
eomposure, his only exhibition Of feeling
being show of amusement at some of
tie greWsome points in the story of his
c.isre lis brought out in the arguments
If tire counsel. He seemed especially
llsasea when Attorney General Powers
leaa from tho pages Of the coroner's in
quest records, Huyd's own admission,
II struck him ca the head with the axe
with about the same force as you would
Griyc a nail. - When he seemed most
pleased the nervous ones among the au-
dience we're usually in fldgety state.
The Judge had allotted an hour and 4
bslf to each lawyer, but they argued only
enc. hour apiece.
Senator higgins, for the defense, said
he could not deny that his client killed
his father, but the question is whether
his mind at TINT time was in such state
as to distinguish right from wrong.
The burden Of the argument was an
endeaYor to show that his lack Of ade-
ouate motive his supreme GOODNESS in
notifying the coroners, aud officers, and
his subsequent demeanor were indica-
lions of mental arrangement. The ooun-
sci abstIacted from DIR. Sanborn's lengthy
testimony single paragraph to the
effect that while at the insane hospital
for official observation, Hurd showed
evidence OF melancholia and morbid
mind. On this statement great stress
was laid.
Attorney General Powers ridiouled the
insinuation that the crime was invoked
By irresistible impulse and declared that
the murderer S shrewdness in taking no.
tioe that the neighbours curtains were
drawn, the concealment of the axe and
razor, his hasty conclusion that Marshal
Harmon suspected him, his refusal to
answer any question that would incrim-
mate himself, all pointed to soundness of
mind rather than mental arrangements.
His chief reference to DR.. Sanborn's test
moDy was that he stated squarely and
emphstioally that he discovered no evil
dence of mental delusion or hallucin a.
ton in the prisoner during his five
months stay at the asylum.
Judge Emery's charge was concise
statement of the law covering the case
and the arraignment. side by side. of
the material points raised by each side.
The case went to the jury at TO- SO.
While the jury was out Hurd retained
his seat IN the dock and gazed about the
room with an mir of indifference' which
did not change when the jury returned
and the usual prelininaries were gone
through with, preparatory to reporting
the verdict. He was unmoved when the
foreman pronounced a verdict of guilty
OF murder in the first degree.
At the opening Of the afternoon SEES
sion Judge Emery sentenced Hurd tc
State Prison for life
Before pronouncing the sentence the
Court asked Mr., Higgins if he wished tt
proceed farther in the case. He replied
that be had consulted his client who dc.
sired exceptions waved and that sentence
DO pronounced without further delay.
The prisoner was ASKED if he had any
Thing TO say ;.cfore the sentence was pro
rounoed and hu replied firmly: ''Noth-
ing tn say, sir. When the life sentence
was pronounced ne laughed and sat down
in his chair as II relieved of q burden.