The Pensacola journal., 1914-12-23
CRIMINAL CASE
IS BEING TRIED AT OCALA
State Attorney Jno. P.
Stokes is Prosecuting AL
bert V. Hough, Wealthy
and Prominent, For the
Murder of His Young
Wife.
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
] Ocafa, Dec. 22.-One of the greatest
! legal battles in the annals of Florida,
| to prevent the conviction Of white
man charged with the crime of muir
der is now being waged in the court
house in the city of Ocala, the county
seat Of Marion county, in the cele-
brated case of Albert V. Hough,
charged with the murder of his beauti-
full young wife in Lake county, in
June, 1912.
This case has become one of the
causes celebre in Florida, because the
prisoner has three times previously
been placed upon trial for his life and
on each occasion a m:strial has re-
suited, because the jurors were I'm
able to agree either to the guilt or in
nocence of the accused.
On June 1st, 1912. Albert V. Hough,
the accused, and his young wife, Rosa,
with their five children, were resid-
ing in the village of Clermont, in Lake
county. While Mrs. HOugh was sitting
at the sewing machine in the sewing
room of the family residence making
dresses for the children and humming
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 result
ing in her immediate death.
For several weeks prior to the un-
fortunate tragedy Mr.. Hough had been
freely indulging in Intoxicating liquors
and part of this time was away from
the family residence on a spree. On
his return to the home, Mrs. Hough
gave Mr.. Hough to understand that
she would no longer put up with his
drinking to excess. The day of the
homicide Mr.. and Mrs. Hough did not
eat their breakfast nor their dinner
together some unpleasant words hav-
ing been passed between them.
The prosecution contends that upon
learning that his wife would no long
er put up with his drunken sprees, Mr.
Hough became enraged and resolved to
kill his wife, which he did about two
o'clock on the afternoon of June 1st,
1912 Immediately after the killing
Mr.. Hough was arrested and confined
in the Lake county Jail at Tavares.
from whence he was removed to the
Marion county Jail. in Ocala, to avert
a threatened lynching.
When the case came on for trial, the
case was transferred to Citrus coun-
ty on motion of the defendants at
torneys, because it 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 coun-
ty resulting In three mistrials. The
list Of citizens of Citrus county avail
able for jury duty having been ex-
hausted at the three trials mentioned,
the case was transferred to Marion
county for the fourth trial, by Judge
w. S. Bullock of the fifth judicial cir
cult.
The defendant through his relatives
and attorneys has made a spectacular
fight for his liberty. Every stone has
been turned to bring about his ac-
quittal and every art of the legal pro-
fession has been brought into play on
his behalf. and everything that money
and brains can do for n.tn situated
as Mr. Hough is situated, has been
done for him
It is claimed that at the time of the