The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-12-16

CHARLES RADFORD ON TRIAL AT
SIOUX FALLS TESTIFiES
IN OWN BEHALF
KILLED SIOUX FALLS man
WAS A STRANGER IN CITY AND
THOUGHT HIS OWN LIFE
IMPERlLED

All of the evidence in the Radford
murder trial in circuit court is now
in and the case will go to the jury
this morning. Closing arguments were
made yesterday afternoon by States
Attorney Danforth for the state and
Judge Aikens for the defense.
This morning ID. ]. Conway will
close for the defense and c. p. Bates
for the state.
The defense in the Radford murder
trial now going on in circuit court
commenced the first thing yesterday
morning by calling Eugene Radford,
brother of the accused boy to the
stand. His testimony and that of
Chas. Radford, the accused murderer
occupied the attention of the court
until noon.
Eugene Radford stated that none of
the Hurd family had told him to be
sure and bring the girls home early,
as testified by Mrs. Hurd on the stand.
Consequently they felt under no obli-
cations TO return from McKennan
park before they did which was about
one o'clock in the morning.
He said that just after coming out
of the door he was struck by a man
with a club. AS he fell he yelled to
his brother for help. He did not re-
member the words he used, but his
brother corroborated his evidence
when put on the stand afterward and
said he heard Eugene cry out, help
Charlie, they're killing me-"
He said he laid on the ground un-
conscious for several minutes and only
fa1t nathan fhan heard ono shot that
was fired.
Eugene Radford's testimony was
given in a low tone of voice and the
court was forced to interrupt several
times to ask that he speak louder.
CHAs. RADFoRD ON STAND.
Chas. Radford when put on the
stand sketched briefly his boyhood life
on a farm in Illinois. He gave his
age as "a, his birthday being Novem-
Der Sd. Asked how much he weighed
he stated that ordinarily he weighed
135 pounds. He did not know how
much he weighed at the present time.
He had not been in god health dur
ing the summer. and while working on
the Quincy farm a few miles east OF
Sioux Falls only weighed f25 pounds
He had been suffering from a severe
cold that settled on his lungs, during
that time.
Chas. Radford testified that after
the nights entertainment on Sept.
6, after which followed the shooting,
he arrived at the Hurd home with
Mrs. Brady, a half sister of Hurd's,
before Eugene and Ella Hurd got
home. He left Mrs. Brady and had
started back down to where he met
the others but was induced to go back
with them in order to walk home. with
Eugene.
He had paced up and down the road
in front OF the Hurd home for several
minutes waiting for his brother to
join him, when he saw two men loom
up through the fog. Both carried
clubs. One OF them, which later prov
ed to be Hurd ran up OF him with a
club appraised. f:
"He came so near" said Chas. Rad
ford, chat I could feel his breath in
my face. AS DOR as he got a good
look at me he turned and ran towards
the house."
The light was streaming out OF the
side door and Chas. Radford saw his
brother come out OF the door. The
shadow then enveIoped him.
Just then he heard Eugene cry out:
Help, Charlie, they're killing me-
Pulling his revolver from his pocket
he ran across the grass and as he
drew near, saw two men standing over
Eugene with clubs appraised.
Hurd, hearing the others steps,
whirled around and lifting his club
higher, jumped at Radford. The lat
ter aimed his pistol at him and yelled,
"stop!",