The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-04-16
His Decomposing Body Discovered
By His Son and a Friend
Near Brunswick.
HE DIED FROM NATURAL CAUSES.
Evidently Started to Walk Home from Jack
sOnville-A Note Found in the De-
ceased's Pocket.

4FHE TIMES tod yesterday morning
of the unexplained disappearance of
Charles Hoffman, a we'll known citi-
Zen of Brunswick, and of the search
which had been instituted for him.
Yesterday morning the decomposing
body Of tie missing man was found by
the son OF the dead man and Mr.. Sig
Levison in Taylor's chapel, SIX miles
from Brunswick.
A coroner's inquest was held at the
scene yesterday afternoon. The jury
consisted of G. w. Deming, foreman;
G. L. Steiner, Ben Borchardt, Sig Lev
ison, j. Fl. Polhill and DR., &. w.
Blanton.
DR.. G.. W. Blant0n made an examIn-
alton of the corpse and no evidence of
murder or suicide could be found. the
blood on the floor having probably
been thrown off the lungs after death.
Charles Hoffman, jr., testified that
his father left Brunswick for Jackson
vile on March 20, stating that he had
a good position offered him by Little
Bros, phosphate dealers of that CITY;
that on Tuesday he had been called
up from Jekyl Island by his mother
who was worried by the continued ST.
lence of her husband; that he began
making inquiries; that Ed. Cohen told
him yesterday that he had seen and
spoken to Hoffman at the six mile
crossing on Friday morning last while
on his way to L. V. CarrOll's farm;
that he Immediately started in that
direction with Mr.. Sig Levison; that
they came to the chapel, and thinking
best to look inside. he went to the
door and found his fathers body with
in, sitting upon the floor with his
head ON bench; that Mr.. Levison
went for Mr.. B. D. Waldron, who lives
about mile away, and that Mr.. Wal
dron and he stayed at the chapel
while Mr.. LevIson came 70 town for
Coroner Jennings.
He said be knew of no cause for de-
spOndency or suicide, and that his
father was subject to attacks of ver-
tigo.
Ed. Cohen and Sig Levison corrob-
grated Mr.. Hoffman's testimony.
A pocketbook containing 35 cents
was found on the corpse. and note
book with letter from his daughter
Sadie, dated March 20, and received in
Jacksonville March %, and a note
which Mr.. Hoffman, jr.. identified as
written by the--deceased, reading as
follows:
81 am sick and can go no further. If
/ die please wire my wife, Mrs. Charles
Hoffman, 1928 North Wolf sire ct
Brunswick, Ga. March %, 1897"
The Jury then rendered a verdict OF
death from natural causes.
Probably Mr.. Hoffman had attempt
ed to walk from Jacksonville to Bruns-
wick, and being taken sick on March
2S, wrote this note, but was afterward
able to proceed and left the note in his
pocket. He must have had another at
tack Immediately after Cohen saw him
and going into the church died sud
denly.
The deceased was 80 years old Jnly
a, 1896, and was native of Wurtem-
burg, Germany. He was one of the
charter members Of Oglethorpe Lodge,
knights OF Pythias, and bore splen-
did reputation for honesty and integ-
rity.
All friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Hoffman are invited to attend the
funeral of the latter at 8 80 today.
Services will be held at the grave in
Palmetto cemetery.