HARRELL, James Fount

Hassayampa Miner (Wickenburg AZ) Thursday, March 23, 1916, p 1 The sentence of Walter Kermeen, who was to have been hanged for murder at the state prison last Friday, was commuted to life imprisonment Thursday by the board of pardons. Juries in the Cochise and Pinal county superior courts had pronounced Kermeen sane and responsible for his actions but evidence was brought before the board to convince the members that he was of unsound mind. Many prominent people of Nevada, California and Arizona interceded in Kermeen's behalf. Those who had known him from boyhood signed affidavits stating that he had long been "queer" and that in Nevada he was known as "Loco." Some of the evidence tends to show that Kermeen became erratic and irresponsible after suffering a severe fall in his youth. The board is considering having experts examine him and determine if there is any possibility that a trephining operation on his skull will restore his reason. Whether this is done or not, the board will endeavor to have Kermeen removed to the asylum for the insane. Kermeen killed J. P. Harrell while the two were on a hunting trip near Bisbee in May, 2014. He shot his companion as Harrell lay resting under a tree. At the trial he said that he had an irresistible desire to kill any man he saw lying down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ For several articles about this murder see Chronicling America, Bisbee Daily Review, May 9, May 13, May 14, May 15, May 22 and July 25, 1914