St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-16
MURDER OF HOPPE.
Preliminary Hearing Of the Al
legged Bass Lake Murdereps.


The examination of Mrs. A. NJ. Smith
and Charles Hennig. charged with the
murder of Edward Hoppe at Bass lake
on July 4, Was commenced in the police
court yesterday. County Attorney
OBrien and Pierce Butler, his assist
ant, appeared for the state. the prison.
ers being represented by w. w. Erwin.
DIR. Am0Ss. deputy coroner, testified to
the inquest hs!d on the body, and that
Hoppe died from bullet wound aud
not from drowning.
p ID. Wincheil testified to bringing
the body of Hoppe from the water. It
was about twenty-five feet from the
shore. He last saw Hoppe alive about
10 O'Clock. Hoppe was fishing. stand
ing In the water, and witness, hearing a
splash, hurried TO the spot, thinking
Hoppe, who had been drinking, would
be drowned. When he arrived Hoppe
made threatening gestures with a bottle
OF beer. He finally coaxed. him from
the water, and. after taking a drink
with fini. the witness went off to pick
berries. During his absence the shoot
ing occurred. He was neighbor
OF Hennig's, and had known
him since 1878. Generally Hennig
was friendly, but at times
would be ''huffy." He had told
Hennlg not to be SO promiscuous in dis
charging fire arms. This was on hear
ing that Hennig had sometimes fred a
rifle to drive away applicants for infor-
nation and treSpaSsers. On crOss-ex-
animation by Mr.. Erwin witness said:
Hennig and the colored woman, Mrs.
A. NJ. Smith, had lived in the same
house tshe as Ills housekeeper) for four
teen years. Hennig's wife is in the in
sane asylum. He had heard rumorS that
Hennig and his houspkeeper would
marry when the insane woman died.
John Graft stated that he was at Bass
lake July 4 and saw Hoppe there about
1913 a. m. in the water. dead. He was
about forty feet out from shore. Saw
Hennig in boat.
James W. Blair was at Bass lake with
his brothers. Nicholas and w. III. Blair,
Oh July 4. He saw Hoppe both before
and after the shooting. He saw Hoppe
fishing, when a man came and threw
rocks at Hoppe. Witness saw a colored
woman appear. She fired three shots
from revolver, the third hitting Hoppe,
after which he fell. Witness and his
brother went up the railroad track and
s'took peek" at the Smith woman.
Witness saw Hennig dragging the dead
body through the water. On cross
examination by Mr.. Erwin witness said !:
Mrs. Smith came within four PAGES of
the water; might have been nearer
Hoppe was in the water. Hennlg was
between the two. Three shots were
fired in rapid succession. After firing
the fatal shot Mrs. Smith went around
Hennig's hous.. and up the railroad
track, after which she surrendered her
self. Hennig dragged the body about
ten rods and left it. Returning, he
dragged it again off his premises. An
old soldier brought the body out of the
water. Heard Hennig say, before he
threw the rocks, "Get out of here !;
you've no business here, !"
j. G. Cogswell testified as TO having
been at Bass lake on July 4. He was in
boat with Nick Blair and saw Hoppe
in the water fishing. He saw Hennig
throw rocks at him and heard Hoppe
say, ''Let Inc 60" He also saw Mrs.
Smith shoot at Hoppe and heard her
say, "l'll shoot you" Hoppe tried to
get away and did not see him strike
with his pole.
Mir. Erwin declined to cross-examine
the witness.on the ground that he was
under the influence of liquor. CogSwell
denied the charge, but the county at
torney took the same view and asked to
have him committed to jail.
The examination was continued until
10 o'clock this morning.
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