St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-15
WANT AND MISERY
Prevail at the Earn-Like
Home OF Mrs. Henry
Hoffman,
WHOSE HUSBAND is IN JAIL
Charged With Embedding
Money From His En-
ployers.
THE HOUSE UNINHABITABLE
And the Wife and Four Chill
dren Suffer From Cold
and Hunger.
THE HOUSE UNINHABITABLE

or+v and misfortune. Three of the
eight rooms of the house are tenant
ed by Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffman and
her three children, frail little totS,
varying in age from a nursing papy
of a few months to a boy OF nVe.
The condition of the family is truly
depIorable, as they are practically
without food, have not pound OF
coal on the premises, and the unfor-
tunate woman admits that she has
not a cent and is in despair over the
gloomy prospect of caring for her
dependent flock.
Yet her burden is greatly increased
by the misfortunes into which the
family has been plunged by the reck-
less dissipation and alleged criminal
conduct of the husband and father,
Henry Hoffman The latter, as facts
ind.oate, is a worthless fellow, and
while his family are actually suffer-
ing for the bare necessities of exist
ence, occupies a cell at the county
Jail, incarcerated on a charge OF
embeZzlement.
Earning sufficient to provide COM
fortably for his family, Hoffman, who
was employed as delivery clerk by
the L. Eisenmenger Meat company,
not content with ignoring those de-
pendent upon him, drifted into GRIM
inal practices, it is alleged, and sys-
tematically pilfered from his en-
ployers and squandered the pro-
ceeds in liquor. He was suspected,
followed and arrested last Monday
evening.
Since that time Mrs Hoffman and
her little ones have struggled brave
ly to exist in the barn-like structure
which they occupy. But without pro-
visions and fuel, aud possessing no
means with which to purchase them,
the unfortunate family has actually
suffered the initial tortures of starry
| alton. Rumors of their lamentable
| condition were circulated among
their neighbors yesterday, and thus
| their misfortune was brought to the
attention of the authorities. I'm
mediate, but temporary, relief was
given, and last night the little fam
lily dined heartily. @ .
When a GLOBE reporter visited
the home of the Hoffmans last even
ing a pitiful condition Of affairs was
| revealed. Cold air came from the
vacant up stairs rooms and was
whirled through the living apart
ment of the desolate family. Here,
| too, the temperature was uncom-
fOrtably breezy, as the warmth of a
kitchen fire was missing. The stove
was cold and contained not an EN-
Der of fire. Close to the chilly iron
huddled two of the children, their
little bodies, but thinly clothed, shiv-
ering with cold.
In her mothers arms a five months
old babe sobbed necessarily.
A glance around the room revealed
not the slightest trace of anything
edible. Some partially broken boxes
of wood occupied a corner Of the
kitchen, but Mrs. Hoffman appar-
emily lacked sufficient energy to use
it, although her rooms We're prac-
tically at a
FREEZING TEMPERATURE.
With the stolid Indifference of her
race, Mrs. Hoffman, who under
stands English but slightly, related
a fragmentary story of woe and
distress that was appalling.
Early last summer, she declared
she had deposited in st. Paul bank
$17O, which she had accumulated by
thrift Out of employment, her lit
tie savings became q temptation to
her husband, who constantly impor-
tuned her to allow him to handle her
money. She finally acceded, and
Hoffman opened a saloon. The ven
ture was a failure, and another big
share of her savings was dissipated
in butcher shop, which also proved
disastrous.
Finally, Mrs. Hoffman declares
the balance was used for necessary
living expenses. Her husband, who
in the interim dissipated considera-
bly,, secured a position four months
ago with the Eisenmenger Meat com
pany, receiving $40 a month an6
what meat he might require for his
family. During that interval, Mrs
Hoffman alleges that he did moi
give her a dollar, but at times pur.
chased such groceries as he pleased
For the past fortnight the family
has not burned a lump Of COAL de-
pending upon the heat afforded by
broken pine boxes. The unhappy
woman charges her husband will
having spent his salary for whisky
and beer. To add to her mis-
fortune, she owes two months rent
! $16-and daily fears she will be dis
( possessed. If such a misfortune occur.
she and her little ones will be prac
tically dependent upon charity.
When Henry Hoffman was ar
rested last Monday, his family haC
barely any provisions in the house
and since then his wife, to procur,
food for her tile ones, was obliged
to ask assistance from her brothers
burdened with other cares.
The neighbors f Mrs. Hoffman
conversant, apparently, with tn
reckless manner in which the hus
: band dissipated his wife's little for
tune, corroborate her story of crue
neglect.
One neighbor, Mr.. Kay, allege
. that besides squandering his wife
, money, Hoffman spent about $I26
2 said to have belonged to Emerson
2 lodge, I. o. o. F., of which he was tn
g treasurer, and which the lodge ha
made an unsuccessful attempt t
collect. They all agree in pronounc
ing Hoffman a shiftless fellow, an
express much sympathy for his fam
lily. A casual investigation will con
! vince any one of their deborah