Edward Hurman

 born on 13th September 1886.

This is the story of Edward Hurman who was born in Kilburn London in 1886. He was a single man and his occupation was a Jeweler. I believe that he had two brothers and two sisters although these are still to be traced.

This story begins with the finding of an undated news cutting, which my father had kept since reading it in a newspaper on the 15th of May 1962. It briefly stated that Edward Hurman had died that day aged 75. He had died in Broadmoor hospital where he had been sent for the crime of murder. 

A letter to hospital and the search in Bristol library of the Times Newspaper revealed the following story. 

On The 17th September 1925, Edward Hurman was staying at the Church army hostel in Marlybourne, London. He had argued with Cyril Thomas Susans, who Edward said had made an infernal nuisance of himself. He had ignored Edwards pleading to desist and the argument became violent, resulting in Edward stabbing Susans in the stomach. 

On October 22nd 1925, Edward was charged with stabbing Susans. He was remanded to answer the charge. 

Susans died of his injuries, in hospital a short while later and on The 13th of October 1925, Edward was charged with his murder. 

On The 14th November 1925, Edward appeared at the Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey, before Mr. Justice Swift. Mr. Eustace Fulton was the prosecutor and Claude Grundy the defending barrister. Despite evidence to support his plea of insanity, the jury convicted Edward of murder. He was sentenced to death by hanging. 

On 22nd November 1925, Edward appealed, and on The 8th December 1925, he appeared before the appeal court. Mr. Claude Grundy said that the evidence of Edward's insanity was very strong. Despite this the appeal failed. Lord Chief Justice said, " on existing material and without further evidence that would have been plenty of justification for the jury to find a special verdict, but after a perfectly proper summing up they did not to so. It was for the jury to come to a conclusion. The appeal court did not think that the verdict of the 
jury should be set aside. The case should go to the home secretary who could make a decision."

Fortunately for Edward, the Home Secretary decided that leniency was appropriate, his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. On The 18th December 1925, Edward was admitted to abroad more hospital, where he remained for the rest of his life. 

It is not known exactly what relationship Edward was to our family line.