The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-07-10
A Court of inquiry.

MARX w. SOOy, Df. IL. u. harrington ana
Amos Gibbs, commissioners appointed by
the Court of Chancery, and a jury of
twenty-four men, sat in the upper room of
the court house yesterday to inquire into
the lunacy of Ellen Hoffman, aged SO
years, of Delran, and the testimony
showed bitter feeling existing between
the children of the respondent, who was
unable to be present on account of her
physical condition.
About twenty years ago Ellen showed
symptoms of insanity or melancholy, and
she was sent to the state asylum, after
which she was brought to the county
almshouse and after remaining there for
while she recovered and was taken out by
her sons John and Samuel. Mrs. Hoff-
man had no money nor property and
made her home alternately with John,
Samuel and Jesse.
About three years ago the mother OBJ
tanned pension, amounting altogether to
1896, and this is when the family trouble
began. Samuel secured the money and
after giving his mother 800 retained the
balance of 1896. which he now has on de-
posit in Camden bank. He claims this
sum he is entitled to for the care which
he bestowed upon his mother, and this
leaves nothing for the other sons.
John Hoffman, who has six children,
and whose wife died in 1880, was i'll
twelve weeks last winter, when his
mother declared he should have 500 out
of the money held by Samuel This the lat
ter refused to pay over and John has re-
covered judgment for the amount.
The mother, who is now helpless and
confined to her room. is living with Jesse
and his wife, and for their services they
are receiving the quarterly pension
money, which was secured through the
death of son.
Samuel Hoffman was the first witness.
He claimed that his brothers have been
prosecuting him for years. Said that his
mother was mentally unsound and unable
to transact any business. She would fire.
quently come down stairs without any
clothes on to visit the neighbors, and on
many occasions would try to RUIZ away.
Samuel was corroborated by his daughter
but no positive testimony was elected
from either witness.
Alexander Rhoades, Justice of the
Peace, at Riverside, had no doubt as to
the woman's soundness of mind. He had
frequent dealings with her of a business
nature and always found "grandmom" of
clear mind for a woman of her age.
Jesse Hoffman, who boards his mother,
said her mental condition was all right
She was very rational and he had never
had any trouble with her. "There are
some people she don't like" he said
John and me she likes best, but she
don't like Sam" Jesse never saw any in
sanity ABOUT her, and was of the opinion
that his mother needed guardian be.
cause such a person would be more suit
able to handle her money. He wanted
some member of the family appointed.
Mrs. Jesse Hoffman said: 81 take splen
did care of the old lady and keep her
clean. / am with her nearly every hour
during the day. There is nothing at al
irrational with Elias mind, only she hai
childish talk"
DIR. Stokes. when called upon, said he
was surprised at the woman's condition
as he expected to find her mind some
what impaired. He admitted her lucid
mind and was not prepared to say tina
she was insane. He thought she was no
capable of transacting business on accoun
of her age and deemed the appointment
of guardian advisable. His visit was in
terrupted by family row.
The case was adjourned until this after
noon at O'Clock.