The Pensacola journal., 1914-12-26
Case Had Been Tried Three
Times Previously and the
Juries Failed to Agree.
MURDER COMMITTED
OVER TWO YEARS AGO
State Attorney Stokes Of
Pensacola Conducted the
Prosecution and Upon
Reaching the City Yester-
day Received a Wire An
nouncing Conviction.

HOuIlClTlg CONVICTION.
Albert V. HOugh, rich and promf-
nent' who killed his young wife at
their home In Lake county, was con
! victed yesterday in Ocala OF murder
| ing his wife. The verdict was re-
turned Christmas day and found tho
defendant guilty of murder in the hrst
degree with "a recommendation for
mercy. The case became one OF tha
most celebrated in the history OF the
| state, for the defendant had three
times been tried by three different tu-
ries, none of which could agree upou
a verdict and a mistTiaI each time Vas
ordered
The defense was that TIough was
! insane when he killed his young vifo
and to support this claim four alienlsts
were brought forward by Hough's law
yers and testified hs behalf. On ac-
count of the Importance Of the casa
Gov. Trammell requested State Attor-
ney Stokes to go to OcaIa and con-
duct the prosecution. Mr.. Stokes re-
turned to the city yesterday morning
leaving Ocala Saturday after the cage
had been given to the jury and few
hours after his return he received n
wire announcing the jury had found
the defendant guilty with a recon-
mendation Of mercy
WIFE SHOT IN BACK.
On June /. 1912, Hough. and bjs
young wife, Rosa. with their five chill
dren, wero residing in the VILLAGE of
CIermont, in Lake county. Whue Mrs.
Hough was sitting at the sewing ma
chine IN tie sewing Taom Of the fam
lily residence making dresses for the
children ana humring q little melody
for their entertainment, the husband
and father approached from the rear
and fired five shots from a revolver.
four Of the shots taking effect In the
BODY Of the lady resulting in her inn
mediate death.
For several weeks prior to tho nm
fortunate tragedy Hough had been
freely induIEing in Intoxicating Uo1lors
and Eart Of this time was away from
the family residence on q spree on
his return to the home Mrs. HouEh
gave IIough TO understand that sbo
would no longer put up with his drink
ing to excess. Tae day Of the homf-
eide Mr.. and Mrs. Hough did not eat
their breakfast nor their dinner to-
gether, some unpleasant words having
been passed between them.
u5 prosecution GCnLCnQeQ that uDDl
learning that his wife would no longer
put up with his drunken sprees. Mr..
Hough became enraged ard resolved To
kill his wife which he did about two
O'Clock on the afternoon Of June 1st.
Immediately after the killing Hough
was arrested and confined In the L.ako
county jail at TaVares, from whence he
was removed to the Marion county
Jail, In OcaIa, to avert threatened
lynching.
When the case came on for trial,
It was transferred to Citrus county
on motion OF the defendants attor-
neys, because II was alleged that he
could not secure a fair trial In Lake
county on account of the sentiment OF
the people in that county The case
was three times tried in Citrus county.
In three mistriaIs. The list
Of citizens OF Citrus county available
for jury duty having been exhausted
At the three trials mentioned, the case
was transferred to Marion county for
the fourth trial, by Judge w. S. Bull
ock of the Fifth judicial circuit
The defendant through his relatives
and attorneys has made a spectacular
light for his liberty. Every stone was
turned to bring about his acquittaI
and every art OF the legal profession
that money and brains can
10 for a man situated as Huugh was
lone for him.
1t is claimed that at the time OF tho
Hough was insane and be-
,ause Of mental arrangement was not
egally responsible for his act In killing
lis wife. To support this plea the
history Of the Hough family for gem
,rations, and the personal history Of
1ough himself. was fine-combed and
very fact OF circumstances Of an un-
Usual character laid before the jury
Is evidence to show that Hough was
insane. Beginning with the infancy
# the accused man, his movements
rom place to place up TO the time of
he killing Of his wife, were brought
before the jury.
Throughout the several trials Of this
.ase. the state relied upon the tesu-
nony of one expert on insanity and
nervous diseases. The states expert
rome other than DR.. Ralph NJ. Greene,
thief physician at the Florida hospital
or the insane at Chattahoochee, who
wore that Hough is absolutely sane
md that he was sane at the time OF
he killing.