Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-07-04
HEY WERE OPPOSED 10 The Union

John lipuElNu, son OF Charles n.
Hoffman, storukeeper Mt the corner of
Elm and Van Buren, streets. was to have
been married at 73o o'clock Wednesday
night To Miss lsadora Ziegler, daughter
OF Mrs. byron v. Smith, at No. 1907
Linden street, and all of the arrange
ments were made for the wedding, but
the groom failed to put in an appear.
ance, and consequently the marriage did
not take place.
Hoffman and Miss zeigler have been
close friends for the past eight months,
and recently they desired to get mar
ried and on the Goth of Jnne marriage
license was procured by tho intended
groom and left ut Miss zicgler's home.
The Rev, w. W. Sharpe of Wesley
Church had been engaged to perform
the ceremony, the friends had been in.
vited, and all other preparations were
made.
On Tuesday week Hoffman called
at the home OF Miss Ziegler and very
pleasant afternoon was passed. He
promised to return on Wednesday after
noon and TO take supper with the young
lady. There was no intimation on Tues
day afternoon that anything was wrong
and both of the young people appeared
to be very happy.
Wednesday afternoon, however, Miss
Ziegler received telegram, on which
there was no address and no date, which
read as follows:
Will not be down tonight for reasons
best known to myself. JOHN HOFFMAN.
At about the same time the Rev. Mr..
Sharpe also received telegram, which
did not state from whence 1t came,
reading as follows:
The affair at Linden and Porter streets
will not come off this evening.
JoHN HOFFMAN.
When the minister received this no.
tice he went to the home of the young
lady to obtain an explanation. She was
at loss, as well as the preacher, and
both suspected that something was
wrong, as they could not tell from
what place the messages had come.
However, both the minister and the
young lady hoped that the young man
would live up 10 his word, and each of
them thought that be would be on hand,
| and the arrangements went on Just the
| same. The guests assembled at the
house in the evening and everybody
was there but the groom. The parloI
had been decorated for the occasion and
a pleasant evening was anticipated.
But the appointed hour arrived with.
out the groom, and then there were all
manner of surmises. IL had leaked out
that the parents of Hoffman had opposed
the union and all manner of theories
were advanced.
Tie party who had assembled to wit.
! tho 2UnAAtNn ~
hour, but as the time wore on they
began to get restless and uneasy, and il
was apparent that something was radi
cally wrong, and late in the evening the
watch was given up and the guests
sorrowfully departed.
\ reporter of The GAZETTE called or
the young lady Thursday morning ane
learned from her the facts as stated. Sh,
is comely girl of %, while Hoffman is
20 years of age. Miss Ziegler is at los.
to explain matters, but she is convinced
that the parents of Hoffman had ad
vised him against marrying her, and sh,
naturally thinks they induced him K
abandon the idea and absent himself
from the house. She has not seen Hoff
man since Tuesday afternoon and sh,
has not the slightest idea as to where h,
is. Her only regret seems to be that sht
was so wrongfully treated. She doe
not seem to care about the proposed
wedding not taking place, but she think.
that she should have been given timely
notice OF the young mans intentions
She is very outspoken in her condemna
ton of his conduct, if he is accountable
for his actions, but she will not go t.
much trouble to look for him.
Hoffman's parents were also visited
by the reporter They said they haC
nothing TO say, but acknowledged tina
they were opposed to the marriage. Til,
father said they had not been invited
and had only heard of the proposed
wedding from outsiders. They soy tn,
young man had not told them anything
about ituntil Wednesday. Mr.. Hoffman
said his son ate dinner at home Wednes
day and left and they have not know
OF his whereabouts since. He said
however, that he expects his son to re
turn, but he don't know when.
NeighboTs state that they saw ,Jobl
r. Hoffman, tie intended groom, leav,
his fathers house Wednesday afternoon
dressed, apparently, in new suit o
clothes, and they supposed he was goin,
to the home of Miss Iiegler, but the,
have not seen him since.
People living in the neighborhooc
seem to be well aware of the fact tina
the parents Of the young man were op
posed to the union, and all sorts o
rumors are atloat us to his whereabout
at the present time.
Miss Ziegler was seen by reporter O
The GAZETTE Friday afternoon at he
home. She was in excellent spirits an,
cenversed freely about the disappoint
ment.
There have been rumors afloat tina
she proposed TO sue young Hoffman 70
breach Of promise and that he, fearinl
such action, would not return to town.
Miss Zlegler said he need have n,
such fear, because she will take II,
action whatever in the matter, aud tina
he is Mt liberty TO return ut any time.
she adheTes to the belief that he wa
not to blame for the course he pursued
She stated that she had been informc,
that neighbors had told him that he wa
killing his parents inch by inch, am
that if he did not leave the city AM
J break the engagement his father ant
mother would probably commit suicide
The reporter learned from anothe
source that Hoffman intends to return
to the city and resume business with hi
father. There are stories current in tn
western part of the city that he ha
gone far west, but they are not believed
Miss Ziegler says she has not hear,
from him since she received the tnys
FERROUS telegram last Wednesday.
CECIL CUUNTP FAIR.