The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-08
is A CASE CELEBRE
ALFRED SON Is FOUND GUILTY OF
NUMBERING HOFFMAN.

Famous Trial From d County. Ok,ahomas
Is Concluded Partly By the Preuosneed
Verdict ON One of the Men Charged
Pettyjohn's Trial Will FolIsw-JuEy has
q Hard Time Arriving ut the Verdict
hut 1t Last Asrees-story of the N.Y.
FERROUS Disposition Of IN Okiahems
OmciaL
Guthrie. o. T., Dec. ALFRED Son has
been convicted of murder at Fl Reno.
The Son case comes from ID county ana
is one OF the most famous in the west
D county is a western Oklahoma coun-
~ OF which the small town Of Talosa IS
the county seat. Nearly two years ago
its treasurer, Hoffman. was killed. IN
the little county building his office may
still be seen. In it is a great iron safe
The combination has been knocked OF
and the countys funds are now secured
by big chain which is wrapped around
the knobs of the safe and locked with
paddock.
When Hoffman was found murdered
would cost more TO get an expert 10
come out and open the safe in a regular
way than the county could possibly
scrape I'D after the funds were secured
from the safe So an ak and cold
chisel did the work
Alfred Son had a trial at FL Reno
about a year ago but the jury disagreed.
The present jury remained out ior.y-
eight hours. Mr.. Robinson, one OF the
Jurors. holding out for Son. Judge Tars-
ney issued further instructions ana yer
dict of guilty was brought in
Alfred Son. who is a boy about u years
old. did not show by any sign or express
sion of the face, when he heard the YER
oict. that it ruffled or in any way dis
pleased him. On the contrary, While ne
listened TO the verdict, while being con-
Quoted 10 the Jail, and after the door
closed behind him, he still maintained
the same confident smile that has been
with him ever since the trial began. be
knows his friends are working with
might and main for his liberty, ana they
will get it for him if possible.
The trial of one of the Pettjohns Will
probably come up at this term. Petu-
john is under Indictment on the same
charge with Son.
On Jan. y. 1895. Fred Hoffman, at that
time county treasurer of d county and
also United States commissioner, was
found dead on the north bank of the
South Canadian river about five miles
southwest of the town of Tdioga. There
was a bullet hole through his head which
was unmistakable evidence that he had
been murdered. There seemed TO be
but a small clue to the perpetrators of
the deed. vet Hoffman had a number OF
enemies and the suspicion was directed
toward some OF them. Shortly AFTER the
murder Deputy Chris. Madsen and posse
arrested Grant Pettijohn and Alfred and
Bailey Son. Grant Pettijohn was at that
time editor Of the Taloga Tomahawk.
and a young gentleman who stood well
in the estimation of the people. The Son
boys were prominent young stock men
of the county who had never before been
susrecter of crime. No particular mo-
tive could be shown why these men
should have killed Hoffman, only thai
they were on opposite sides on the herd
law questions arising out OF the disor-
ganized condition of affairs existing in
that county at the time. The defendants
were first brought before United States
Commissioner WaSS, who decided that
the United States courts had no jurisdic-
ton in the matter. but the defendants
were nelu 10 await Tic dNtioh VI nv
grand jury Of D county.
A true bill was returned against all
three of the defendants and they were
arraigned in court; upon motion a
change of Venue was given The defend
ants to Canadian county. When the
day of trial came the cases were sepa-
rated and only Aired Son was placed on
trial The case lasted nearly week but
the jury failed 10 agree upon verdict
and the case was again set for trial at
this term of court.
When the case was called last Monday
Attorneys Springston and Black OF Ia
loga and Mcknight of Arapahoe appear
ed in behalf of the Territory while Sena-
tor Temple Houston, and r. j. Ray OF
Woodward and Judges Griggsby and
Pitzer of FL Reno represented the de-
PENDANTS.
All parties answered ready for trial
1t took the greater part OF Monday to
select the jury. Tuesday morning the
attorneys for the territory stated their
case and proceeded to examine their wit
nesses. The first fact established was
that Fred Hoffman was killed at the
time and place stated above. They then
put witnesses on the stand who testified
that Alfred Son and several others were
In saloon at Taioga the morning or the
murder, also that Alfred Son had hired
buggy and team of liverynan thar
morning and he in company with some
unknown man whom the prosecution
tried TO prove was Zip Wyatt. Red Buck,
or some other outlaw. had driven away
in a southwesterly direction from the
town
The unknown mysterious individual.
whoever he was, had a gray horse bridl-
ed and saddied. which he led behind the
buggy. The evidence located the defend
ant in perhaps mile or two CT the place
and within an hour OF the time when
Hoffman was supposed 10 have been mnr
dered. The prosecution placed Mrs F.
Goodwin, nee Miss ShanhoiZer, on the
stand. She testified that the day the
murder was committed, she was visit
ing friends out on the J. V. Flats south
west OF Taloga and that Alfred Son. the
defendant. came after her in a buggy
and brought her home 10 Taloga. On
cross examination she stated thai she
had gone out there the Saturday before
and as she did not want 10 stay week,
she left a note with her brother to give
TO Alfred son. when he came 70 town.
telling Son that she wanted him to call
for her Tuesday. and that ne would ind
her az the schoolhouse. The place where
the young lady was stopping and where
Son found her that day was IN the same
direction that he and the stranger was
seen 70 drive away from town on the
morning OF the murder Of Hoffman The
territory rested their case al O'Clock
p. n. Wednesday, but the attorneys
claimed that they had Two other wit
nesses whose testimony would be ma:eri-
al. but could rot get them AZ this time
An attachment had been issued but Tire
witnesses had not arrived. Al this
everybody was surprised when Temple
Houston IN behalf Of the defense arose
and announced 20 the court that the d.