The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-06-05
THE CLERMONT TRAGEDY

many people in Marion county. the
terest to our people:
Tavares, June "A. V. Hough is in
Jail here, charged with the murder of
his wife, Mrs. Rose Hough, which oc-
CURED at Clermont this county, late
Saturday afternoon Hough does not
deny the crime. Alleged unreasonable
jealousy on the part Of the man, who
was drunk at the time Of the murder,
is supposed to have actuated the crime.
which was one of the most brutal in
the history of the state. Mrs. Hough
was killed as she sat at her sewing
machine, and their six-year-old son,
Richard. was a witness of the tragedy.
When his father is arraigned TO an
swer to the charge of murder the lit
tie lad will be the main witness.
Hough, crazed with liquor and dope,
entertained a suspicion of Doctor
Banker, who had been attending the
family, but his mind was by no means
clear on the point, because, after the
shooting. he said he knew his wife
was innocent.
Hough had made repeated threats
against the entire Crenshaw CHS
wife's) family. He went to Orlando
Friday. 1t is said for the express pur-
pose OF killing Mr.. Mcneil. Mr.. Nc
Neill said he wasn't afraid Of him and
drove him around town for an hour
or more.
Hough's own brother Is said to have
told his friends that he was afraid of
him, and refused to interfere in his
numerous difficulties.
The tragedy of Saturday came as a
climax to a long period of matrimo-
NAL infelicity, which had grown acute
during the past three months. Hough
had been out of work for that length
of time. and had been drinking inces
sanity 1t was said that he had been
drunk for six weeks. His wife had
threatened to leave him.
Recently, three of the children, of
which there are five, became i'll with
measles. and DIR. Banker was sum-
moned to the house. He made several
professional visits. and Hough con-
ceived a violent dislike for him. Sat-
urday afternoon his insane rage got
the upper hand of him, and he walk
ed into the room in which his wife
was sitting sewing, and without warn
ing pulled a revolver and fired a shot
point blank at her.
Shot Her Three Times
He was standing so close to her that
the powder burnt into her arm. the
bullet entering her shoulder Mrs.
Hough sprang up with a scream and
called loudly for Phillips, the Odd
family servant. Little Richard, amaZ-
ed. crouched against the WALL and
his mother try to for the
door by his father; he saw his father
raise the pistol again, and three shots
rang out. Every bullet took effect and
the woman fell to the floor with
groan.
Mrs. Crenshaw, Mrs. Hough's mother,
who has been an invalid for seven
years, got out Of bed and with the aid
of crutches, came downstairs. Phillips
came running in from the yard. Hough
was seen standing over the body of
his wife, examining his gun which he
had emptied of cartridges.
Mrs. Crenshaw said to him: You
have killed her, suppose you are
satisfied"
Phillips. the negress, lifted her mis-
tress tenderly and laid the body on a
couch. Little Richard. crying. ran out
into the yard. Hough calmly put the
pistol into his pocket and walked over
to the village and secured some more
cartridges. When he had safely re-
loaded his pistol he announced to the
astonished villagers that he had just
killed his wife.
Fought on Sheriff
He returned to the house and for
two hours kept the sheriff and his
deputies at bay by brandishing his
pistol and threatening to kill anybody
who approached him. At o'clock he
surrendered
Immediately after the murder Mr..
McNein, who was in Orlando. was no
titled, and left Immediately for Cler-
mont, with s. H. Kilgore. an old fam
lily friend. and Sheriff Kirkwood. Tom
Abernethy drove the car.
At Winter Garden the party met the
county sheriff with his prisoner who
was being taken to Tavares
Following is Mr.. Kilgore's account
of meeting with Hough:
HOugh's Statement
II talked with Hough three quarters
of an hour at Winter Garden" said
Mr.. Kilgore. He appeared to be per-
fectly calm, and one who did not know
him would never have been able to tell
that he had been drinking. He said he
had killed his wife because he believ-
ed Dr. Banker was trying to break up
his family.
But he said, L know she is inno-
cent of any such thought. Then why
did you kill her 1 inquired. I did Ii
on my nerve, said Hough.
Il have known Rosa Crenshaw ever
since she was a baby" Mr.. kilgore
said, and she was one Of the sweetest,
purest. finest women in the world. She
was only child when she married
nine years and she was only twenty
six when she was killed. The whole
Crenshaw family objected to the mar
rage and Mr. Crenshaw, who Is now
dead, refused to attend the wedding.
"Hough has always been a worthless
drunkard. He has spent ten thousand
dollars of his wifes family money.
They started him in the grocery bust
ness with a stock worth $4,000. and
within a month he was ordering liquor
in cases He failed in the grocery
store. and then they established him in