Palisadian., 1915-05-22
Haworth Postmaster On Trial
For Very Serious Social Ofense
Defended By His Own Daughter
George H. Hurd, Charged BY Young Girl Clerk In His
Office With Her DownfaU, Makes AHbi His De-
fense And Questionable Testimony Brings
Manu- Others Into Limelight At Trial

About the nastiest mess that has
been kicked up in Bergen county in
some years has just been ventilated
in Haworth, select village not far
from Hackensack. 1t seems that Post
master George H. Hurd had young
girl assistant in his Office who was
rather prepossessing in appearance,
possessed of a good figure, chic
disposition, and other attractions
Her name is Martha Conrad. Martha
recently charged Postmaster Hurd
with assault, naming several New
York places where she met him, etc.
The case came up this week In
Hackensack, and some Of the pointed
testimony showed a beastly state OF
morals surrounding the principals OF
the case, together with some OF the
witnesses. Postmaster Hurd who is
fifty-one years old, having wife
and children, including young lady
daughter, said the whole thing was
frame up" and introduced testl-
mony to that effect, some of it favor
able. That most notorious and TO-
mantle spot, Atlantic City comes in
for it's share of publicity in the case,
inasmuch as the Conrad girl swore
Hurd took her there. A hotel man.
ager told the county prosecutor that
Hurd was there but at the trial rec
ognized Hurd's companion in Atlantic
City as Myra Hurd, the Postmaster's
daughter.
This seemed to surprise Prosecu-
tor Huckin, who asked with some de-
gree of feeling, "When | talked with
you in Atlantic City didn't you tell
me you couldn't identify the young
woman who was with Hurd?"
eyes, sir, l did, and l was sincere
when | told you that, but after see
ing Miss Hurd in court here | at
once recognized her." said the man
ager.
This was damaging blow to the
State.
Then very questionable part was
played by the girls brothers who
went to Postmaster Hurd and tried
to get him to settle. On this point
the Record" printed the following:
William Conrad, brother OF the
young woman complainant, rather
confused matters when he testified
that he and his brother, Harry, went
to the Hurd home to get the post
master to settle. The winess said
that Hurd had already paid $120 and
that there was balance of $50 to
be paid.
"You pay this $50 or you go to
iail!" was the demand made on the
postmaster, which was refused, ac-
cording to this witness.
Harry Conrad, who was along, was
supposed to be the husband of Mrs.
Jessie Conrad, created another sur
prise by stating that he was not the
womanis husband and he didn't know
how she came by that name. lie
was only a boarder, but he and Will
lam referred to her frequently as
Jess"
Justice Hough, of Dumont, who is
sued the warrant for Postmaster
Hurd's arrest, said that the woman
who accompanied Martha Conrad
signed her name to the affidavit as
Jessie Conrad.
This woman is sister of the ac-
cused postmaster and is under arrest
for adultery, her husband, George
Vaughn, being the complainant.
Postmaster Hurd, denied all the
charges made by Miss Conrad. He
said Miss Conrad did write the let
ter to the Atlantic City hotel asking
for accommodations for himself and
daughter, and said his daughter, and
not Miss Conrad, was with him in
the hotel, occupying rooms No. 5O
and So.
Postmaster Hurd, said he never
was in any theater or hotel in New
York with Martha Conrad.
Hurd showed particular vindica-
tiveness toward his sister, Mrs. Jessie
Conrad or Vaughn, and repeatedly
said she was a bad lot. In fact, he
seems to hold her responsible for all
the trouble.
"Did you think she had planned
Martha's ruin?" asked Prosecutor
Huckin.
81 wouldn't put it beyond her" re-
piled the witness.
Again the witness was asked If 1t
were true that on a trip from Boston
with his daughter, if she hadn't
locked herself in a room, being afraid
of him.
"Its all a frameup," declared Hurd.
Hurd was compelled to name two
young ladies of Haworth, who, it was
alleged, his wife had accused him of
taking to hotels. A third one, he
had forgotten her name.
1t was a battle of wits when
Prosecutor Huckin took hold of the
witness and a number of times Hurd
was cautioned by the Judge.
He maintains his innocence and
denies every allegation in the indict-
ment.
Congressman Hart testified in the
case to Hurd's good character, he
having Investigated it before allow
ing him to be reappointed postmaster
at Haworth. The young daughter of
Hurd testified (She is now Mrs