The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-10-07
EBENSDURG, TIIlRSDAY, OCTOBER I, 1852
The Wing Candidate for Canal Commits
sioner.

Whilst in Reading attending the Democratic
Mass Meeting, we made some inquiries in regard
to the character and standing of JACOB HoFF-
MAN, the Wing candidate for Canal Commission
er, and found that he was small lawyer, Of the
pettifogging order whose practice generally had
been of peculiar character, such as the great
lights of the bar would never permit to come
into their offices-that almost all his business
has been of the speculative, intrigueing kind,
and he was by no means particular Interference
to the manner in which he managed cases, al
ways acting on the principle that the end justi-
fed the means. Indeed we heard of several
cases, which in our view would have justified
any court in which he practised, in striking his
name from the roll of Attorneys, as being un-
worthy of having the business of honorable
men placed in his hands, and in one case he
passed so near to the line of dishonorable deal
ings, that it required all his cunning to save
his bacon.
1t seemed that this Mr.. Jacob Hoffman, at n
quite early day, conceived the idea of mdRagetng
courts and juries, according TO his notions of
propriety, and if they failed to come up to his
ideas he endeavored to intimidate them by de-
nunciations and abuse. According to the re-
cords of the court Of Berks county, Mr. Hoff-
man was engaged in the case of a certain Wm.
Degrummond, when the Hon. Garrick Mallory
was President Judge of that court, and after
trial of the said VIM. Degrummond, and Jacob
Hoffman had conversation with Thos Elder
Sr., of our borough, in Public Hotel in Read
ing, in which he traduced the court in most
vile and disgracefui manner, alleging, among
other things, that the Judge improperly in
fuened by the prisoner giving his Honor the
MASONIC SIGN. This conversation, il seems,
was heard of by Judge Mallory, who on the
18th of November 1885, entered rule on Mr..
Hoffman, to show cause why he should uet be
stricken from the roll of Attorneys. This would
have been the ruin of poor Hoffman, and at the
January term, 1886, he came forward and made
the retracton published below, which en-
tered on the records and still stares him in the
face. The infamous character of the charges
may be inferred from the broad and conpre hen
sive retraction. The following is copy from
the records of Berks county in this case
In the Common Pleas Of BerEa county, NoU. IA,
1885.
The Court order and direct Rule on Jacob
Hoffman, ESD, member of this court to show
cause why his name should not be stricken off
from the list of Attorneys.
January Term, 1886.
In answer to the above rule, the undersigned
respectfully begs leave to state that he had
intention or design of committing contempt of
Court or of charging the said Court with impro
per motives or of inducing the public to with
draw their confidence from the same.
And the undersigned further begs leave to
state, that to revive the friendly feelings which
have heretofore existed between the said Court
and himself, he valves any question touching
the jurisdiction of the Court in this matter and
is also pleased to have it inYhis power to state
that he was misinformed in several important
particulars, and knows of nothing that in
anywise impeach the honor or .integritp of this
court
And further that the record in the case of
the Commonwealth VS.. William Degrummond,
does not warrant the statement made by him to
Thomas Elder, Esq. He is satisfied that moth
ing improper done by the Court in that
case.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
]. HOFFMAN.
Ber1s County, S.