The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-10-25
A Bloe.., Tragedy.


The quiet Of this city wuvo.-Sa.-
day afternoon disturbed by one of
the most brutal attempts at murder
that it has ever been one duty to re-
cord. The criminal actor in the
bloody tragedy was Ferdinand Hoff-
man, recently from the Ohio Peniten-
tiary; the victim, his divorced wife,
who, having had her maiden name
restored to her by decree of the
Court which granted the divorce, is
known as Caroline Yost. Hoffman,
who seems to be fiend in human
shape-a man of the worst possible
passions and devoid of every emo
tion of an honorable natu-e--first
came to Canton in 1864, and, after
slight acquaintance, married Miss
Caroline Yost, contrary to the wishes
of the lady's parents, who desired
fuller knowledge of the mans char
acter than they had been able to OBJ
tain. Their objections, however.
only resulted in an elopement, and
the bloody and brutal sequel we are
about to record should be an addl-
tiOnal warning to. young girls who
contemplate the rash step of leaving
the parental roof to engage in a clan
destine marriage with man of whose
character they have no absolute
knowledge. Soon after the marriage,
the fact was developed that the union
vas not destined to be happy one.
Hoffman INDUCED in oft,repeated
abuse of his wife, and betraying some
of the worst traits OF human nature,
as well as a familiarity with those
vices which render men infamous
Detected in the act of stealing from
his father-in law-who had kindly
permitted the return to his home of
the disobedient pair-he enlisted in
! an Ohio regiment and for time pre-
tended to serve his country. But it
was not in his nature to be true in
anything, and SO he deserted and re-
turned to his wife, bearing severe
pistol shot wound in his head, which
he said was made by rebel guerilla.
but which subsequent developments
rendered almost certain was received
in gambling hell at Cincinnati
After time he opened whisky sa-
loon In the basement of a building on
the north end Of the public square,
where he continued to attract to his
den the worst men in the region
round about.
In the Summer of 1866, Hoffman
was arrested by the United States
authorities on the charre of counter
feiting, and was soon after tried and
sentenced to the Ohio Penitentiary
for the light term of one year. AT
ter this occurrence, the wife, feeling
that she had united her destinies with
one utterly unworthy of her love and
confidence, procured divorce upon
the legal ground Of her husband hay-
Mig been convicted OF Penltentisry
offence. 80
A few days since, Hoffman's period
OF Imprisonment expired, when he
immediately returned to this city and
sought reconciliation and re union
with his divorced wife. Meeting
with no encouragement in his efforts
in this direction, he was observed
-r~> ---.c--i ---i;-s
about and lying in wait to meet her.
Sac had, however, managed to avoid
him until Sunday afternoon last,
when he did not hesitate to enter the
sanctuary and there attempt to de-
stroy the life of the woman for whom
he prosessed undying love.
The facts, as we learn them from
parties familiar with the circum.
stances, are these: On Sabbath af-
ternoon Miss Yost 1.-THE divorced
wife) left her fathers house with the
purpose of attending divine service
at the German Reformed Church on
East Tuscarawas street. AS she ap-
Iproach the church, she observed
Hoffman on the opposite side of the
street apparently watching her,
whereupon she hastened into the
church to avoid him. The hour was
early, and no one had vet arrived ex
cept the sexton, whom she passed al
the door, and a few children, whom
she found in the singers gallery, to
which part of the house she immedi
ately repaired. Hearing Hoffman s
footsteps upon the stsirs, she passed
into the balfsy and attempted to fas-
ten the door, when Hoffman forced
his way in and repeated his demand
that she should return to him, which
was, of course refused He had
driven the children down stairs, and
was now alone with his victim. He
solicited a kiss, and, when she
through fear had consented, he threw
his left arm around her neck, and
while holding her in that position
drew Bowie knife and began stab
bing her, first in the bowels and then
in the chest She screamed for heiI
and almost Immediately sank upon
the floor. Whilst she was thus pros
!. trated before him, the fiend continued
:, to cut and stab, inficting wounds in
a the chest, arms and limbs, to the
: number of eighteen. Some of then
# are terrible gashes, one, in the fieshy
e part of the thigh, being some five
e inches in length aud reaching to the
k bone. Supposing that he had com
n pleted his murderous.. work, ant
e hearing the sexton approaching, ht
S fed from the building and attempted
J. to escape to the country. HI
:, was pursued by the assembling
y congregation, and soon after captur
If ed. A crowd of men soon assembled
l. and the facts becoming known, ther
II was strong disposition to hang hin
on the spot. Milder counsels, how
ever, prevailed, when they startet
K with the criminal, his hands still lit
,tI orally covered with the blood of hi
Is victim, and proceeded toward tn
,s Jail At the corner Of Tuscarawa
1t and Poplar streets, the cry Of ven
v geance was again sounded, halt wa
al made, a rope brought forth, and
ID swift retribution was about, to b
.e meted out, when some prominen
n- citizens again interfered and save
ia tue fiend from the fate he so richl
se merited. He was then lodged i
q. Jail, where he now awaits the actio
le of the law I.aa71 s.5lf .sa
The unfortunate woman was Cal
r;ed to her fathers house. where he
g. wounds were dressed by DIR. Suisse