New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-03
THE PORT CHESTER MURDER.
THE DEAD MAN IDENTIFIED.
ARREST OF THEODORE HOFFMAN FOR THE CHIME
-rrsTIuONY BEFORE THE CORONER


ARREST OF THEODORE HOFFMAN FOR THE CRIME
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONER
Isaac Wicheskey, the Polish jew VINO was sup
posed to he the man found murdered III Llhcoh-
ave. ON Thursday near Port Chester, was among
the first persons who called on Coroner Hyier yeS'er
dav. He came with several of his fellow country
men from East Port Chester, and he
identified the murdered man as Zehamiah
Marks a Hebrew pedler. who strongly resembed
Wilcheskry il personal appearance. Meantime the
man. who, every man. woman and child i'll Port
Chester seemed convinced committed the murder,
bad been captured
! he supposed murderer is Theodore Hoffman,
voungman of twenty-0ne, belonging to respectaDle
family living at Port Chester. Two brothers OF
Hoffman were drowned by the upsetting OF BOAT
in a squal off Rye Beach about year ago. and his
father barely escaped with his life. Theodore has
always been regarded by the citizens of Port Ches-
ter n6er-do-weei, and has recently served term
in the Kings County Jail for stealing watermelons.
He seems to haveexcted the enmity of Port chester
people. because. as one man said HE always dressed
heightened and carried a cane" 1t was rumored on
Thursday evening that Hoffman had been seen
where the murder committed early in the
day, and suspicion at once attached to him. 1t was
suppo sed. as be could not be found, that he had
come IT, this CITY, and Coroner Hver sent descrp-
ton of him to Superintendent Walng, win re-
Quest that he should send out a general alarm for
his arrest. When The $40 p. m. train arrived AT
Port Chester from this city. however, Holman
got off and walked unconcernedly down me
street with man who told him of the murder. lie
inquired the particulars of the affair with interest,"
and remarked "Well, they will catch him, won't
theyf" referring to the mu'd rrer Just then con-
stable named Kane came up and said 10 Hoffman
"Wil you como up to Coroner Hylersf lie wants
cert July" repied the Young man. and he went
to NJ Hx-lor eto H,pn ha W
he was susp aoted of the murder. We'll" sad ne
"vou'vo got to prove it," He was taken to back
room and kent until 2 o'clock yesterday morning.
when he waO removed TO White Plains and lodged
jail. A.. co.onor aud ii.
jury met and examined a number OF witnesses.
William Knox, an old hermit who lives In So
cuded spot In Pudding Lane, testified that loh'
man spent Wednesday night at his house KNOX, X Is
most g1rrulous and gentle manner. His appearance
wa st off by slouch hat long gauntlet gloves
when | heard a knock at my door, ana
| opened it and in he came. He had q
wonder if twas handkerchief tie held an axe
up kinder awkward like. ami said your money
or vonr life Massey sakcs,' said I, 1 hant got
no money and my life amt worth much.' Then he
too off his mask and see whO il was. lie only
acted az If be was looling. | took his axe and
looked at it, and sad thar amt mucn of an axe.
thought NAV I've h. didn't owl 1t. you know"
Knox then shown the axe which was found
the body of the murdered man. and asked
bad with him To the surprise of every
one. tho hermit was confd mt that It was not. He
then told of Hoffman STAYING at his hOus' all night
and gong away early IN the morning. when the
moon shone through the hickory tree" William
BoutOn a farmer, living so g miles from Knox
house. testified that Hoffman came to his house at
9 o'clock thursday morning. gong away with
his son afterward. Mrs. Bouton testified that after
h"r hu sbaud had been some time gone llOum1n re-
turned with an axe and acted strangely. One or
two per ons ca led IN and Hon nan sad: You have
good MANY callers. don't you She SAID YES and he
soon after left the house. Mrs BOnOn thought that
the axe shown was the one that lIOtfm n had with
him. 1t was about 1880 when he went away. Fred
enck a noe VINO was cutting ice III hidGe,st.' soon
alter hat saw Hoffman coming from the direction
of the place OF the murder The telegraph Oper TOR
at rye the prisoner take the tram Tor New
York at $40. Two farmers t'shned to hnllug the
body. One of them saw man runnln| across the
fields. Augustus Park Thought that the axe had
been stolen from his saw mill.
he story OF the prisoner. as told to tho
nearly with what was testified to BY otner
witnesses, though GIL he e declares G that he
came 10 tDls city to order iremaI's hat or his
father. When arrested he had on new pair Of
trousers and a seaslin cap. which. he says. ne
bouglt BROOKLYN. The IouSer9 are sari to re-
sem6le those sold by tine murdered p der.
la dkerchiet similar TO those found IN the pack wa.
found IN h pocket. FAINT spots on MS culs ana
on the handkerchief arc thought to be blood. The
pr souer Is of medium height rather slul, with a
smooth face. ana he looks very young.
~
brew Inrty-iwO year, old. ito was born III the Viz
La % of Known, i'm Russian Poland, and was mar
iied there at the age OF twenty. The
family were very poor. His older
blotner. 1haddeus Marks, had emlgrated
New-YOrk anu had become a small trdd ',inan
Zchdaniah came this city about two years ago,
leaving bus " 10 and four children IN the nome OF
his father He began TO peddle small Articles, car
wing ms pack through country towns aud buying
lis wares of his brother. When he was IN this cty
rcplenlshIng ms pack. he boarded WITH his
bro her at No. 10 Essex-at. Tnaddcus Marks
Ia, wife, gio"n-np daughter
aud several younger children. lie was ia Tort
Lester Yesterday aud his family
were mourning for his brother IN the fashion De u
liar 10 the Hebrews OF the lowest class. Their
rooms on he tnird floor of the tencment-n0use re-
soun..,d vi b cnos and mOaus " n,n repOr, er OF
TnE TRIBUNE entered several women ahd hat
grown .ius were shreAing and tearing tn IT
hair .Ile tears stfeaned IRON thrlr
eyes, They stopped at once and answered que'-
lions quIetly, though tJolr previous lamchtd-
tlOns mad been forced from sense OF duty.
,icture of tho dead man produced,
aud II showed hun to be short aud tnlcG BET,
with tu Snort beard and distinctive Hebrew i,at-
ures Ar reporter nad ieIt the ROOMS inc
lamentations broke out aircsn.
------------