The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-04
4 Prominent aewport News Druggist Found
Dead In His Store.
SUICIDE THEORY THOUGHT ERRONEOUS
ihe Unfortunate Mans Name In H. H..
noaihinn-Aie Came TO Newport
News from Richmond ma once
Hhved ia Konnoke-The Rclnailup
Sent to Hts Family.

NEWPORT News, Va. June 3-(SpeciaD
The body OF r. l.. Hoffman. q drug
Elst OF Richmond. formerly OF Roanoke,
was found In the rear of No. 1904 Wash
lhston avenue this afternoon, and be-
mig surrounded by drugs, the people In
the nelghborhood al once leaped to the
conclusion That the party had suicided.
The investigation and autopsy made by
physicians tonight show that the de-
ceased came TO his death by on over
a .,o OF morphine. Coroner Gary con-
Quoted an inquest and the jury returned
4 verdict to the effect that the deceased
came TO his death by an accidental over
dose Of morphine.
Mr. X. la Hoffman was q young man
and left wife and several children now
IN Richmond to mourn his untimely end
Deceased came here to engage In 1he
drug business. He rented store No. 1904
washington avenue and fitted the place
up embeliishing 1t with q fine soda
fountain. and filed the shelves and
show cases with goods prepara tory TO
opening, as he had advertised, June 1st
Ills failure to open and non-appearance
caused suspicion. To-day an officer en-
tered the place and found the mans
oody stretched upon cot stiff in death
MI. ID. tx. Davies, Of Richmond, broth
erin law Of the deceased, was summon
eel and arrived here by the o'clock
train this evening to take charge Of the
body. which was embalmcd by Under
taker Rouse and will be sent TO Rich
mond Friday morning
me deceased was seen and engaged in
conversation by Mr.. Phillip Hopkins
anu others Sunday, Monday and Tues
day. but was not seen after that. Hence
his death must hare occurred Tuesday
night
The action OF the Common Coun-
p.ff ,g.t, 4
they Wanted--n franchise with what
seemed to be reasonable restrctions-is
calling forth much adverse criticism IT
seems that on some ineXplicable account
the trenl Of this honorable body runs
counter TO all precedents 1t had for
merry been their custom to encourage
business by doing what lay III their DOW
er to induce capitalists to invest money
at Newport News, that good might
come TO the city rs we'll as the investors
TO explain the situation in part, ii may
be suggested that two applications at
one time for the same privilege was too
big a dose for the city fathers The re-
sultant surprise from the Suddenness
with which they were thrown on a new
ana untried curve side-tracked business
completely and sent back in disgust the
promoters who represent the capital
that woult:-1lave been invested
The commencement exercises Of New
",
have been in progress since Monday,
closed under very favorable circum-
stances last night.
a very pretty and entertaining oper-
eta was given at Johnson's Hall Tues
day evening which did great credit to
the school. The final exercises, consist
ing of elocution and musical renditions,
reading Of essays, address to the gradu-
ates and the presenting Of diplomas
and medals gave attractive entertain
merh ut the opera house last night.
Promoters of q cotton manufactory.
said to represent large capital, visited
Newport News this week, and were very
favornbly impressed with the advant-
ages this city offers and declare their
purpose of erecting a factory that will
give employment to 500 hands
The Joo Furniture Company, which
was recently organized in this city, Is
ready to engage in the business OF man
ufacturtng the Joo combination ironing
board in this city
President ingalls, and General Mana
ger Stevens, OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio, spent yesterday at Newport News