Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-07
"A TRIPLE KILLING,
John and Edward Hoffman Shot
BY John B. Schmidt
LAT TER ALSO MEETS DEATH.
He Received Mortal Injuries While
Resisting Arrest,
BLOODY AFFAIR IN SURRY.
The FrightfuI Act Of IA Desperate Man
who Was FreBzied With Rnge-
Cause of the TrOubIe-A Deliberate
Iy Planned Homicide

| WAKEFIELD. VA, September g.
Especial THE bodies of John Hoffman
and his son Edward were expressed from
here early this morning to Washington
d. c.. for burial. Their death is the re-
| suit of a shocking tragedy which occurred
yesterday near Swans Point in Surry
| county
1t is reported that the Hoffmans, who
were Iumbermen originally from Buck
ingham county, in this State, had con-
tract TO cut the timber from the land OF
| John b. Schmidt, and that the latter, VINO
| was a man of very hot temper. had be-
| come offended with them about some
trivial matter. The controversy involved
| the manner of cutting the timber, ana
| rather than use legal means to gain what
he thought were his rights, Schmidt re-
| sorted to violence He used his famous
| winchester, with which he was an expert
| as a means of seeking redress. Before the
| tragedy he nerved himself with plenty oil
| spirits at Surry, where he made n =
| threats Of what he could do without fear
| of the results. Then, going TO the saw
mill of Hoffman, he. with deliberate aim'
shot down the father, and then turned,
and with as sure aim sent the son 10 his
death. Not yet satisfied with his deadly
work. Schmidt summoned his own son,
and forced him to turn over the dead
bodies Of the Hoffmans and fill them with
more lead.
An induest was held over the remains OF
Schmidts victims and proper verdict
rendered, after which they were prepared
for shipment to Washington for burial.
THE HOFFMANS STOOD WELL.
The Hoffmans were quiet, law-aoding
people. and were thought TO be in the
right by the citizens in that neiglbor-
hood although they had not long re-
sided there. Schmidt is spoken Of as
having been of menacing disposition,
and many people feared coming IN con-
tact with him
AS soon as the verdict of the Coroner's |
Jury was returned the Sheriff sum- |
moned a posse and went in search rot |
the desperate man. He was found at MS |
home, where the posse succeeded In ar
resting him. but not until after he had |
been mOrtally wounded.
He bore the marks of four shots from
the guns of the officers, and died during
the night.
An inquest is being held this afternoon
over his body, but it is too late TO get
further results from the county seat to-
night This is the most fearful tragedy !
that has occurred IN Surry county since
the poisoning of the Gray family, in the
eighties.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE AFFAIR
The following account of the terrible
affair in which the HoffNans lost their
lives was received in Petersburg yes
terday through a letter addressed TO a
of that city, and written in
Surrv about o'clock in the morning:
"The most horrible tragedy that has
ever occurred in this county took place
Yesterday Olonday). An old gentleman
and his son. Edward and John T. Hon-
man. doing business under the firm name
Of Hoffman & Co, bought some timber |
on Swans Point and also on Mount Plea
SAINT (J. B. Schmidt's place., and were
operating a saw-mill on the latter's pro-
perty situated on the river. Yesterday. |
about u o'clock, Mr.. Schmidt went down
to the mill and deliberately shot both
Mr. Hoffman and his son. He killed the |
son I'm the very beginning, and after he
man begged him not to shoot I
again. but Schmidt deliberately shot time ,
after time each of his PROSTATE victims {
md then made his son, Johnny, and a | /,
,olored man pull the bodies around to !
zee # they were dead. He then re- ,
Marked It's all right; they are dead +
is h 5
POSSE ORGANIZED. +
"About 1880. a man came over to the 7
Courthouse and reported what had hap (
ened Ben Edwards at once summoned !!
eddie Smith Carter Land Tom Spratley,
ohm Maynard, Ernest Matthews, VIII
on BohannOn, Peyton Cooke, WhitmOre
nd Dick Harvell to go over with him 10 Z
rrest Schmidt Their expedition ter
linated as follows Schmidt was shot
As he resisted by four Of the deputies
ohm Maynard. Eddie Smith, Ernest Mat v
hews, and Tom Spratley. S
81 was at Scotland when the tragedy | q
ccurred and came up late in the evening
the Courthouse, and went from there :
, Schmidt's. When l got TO the latters 81
ouse he was lying on the bed shot -
trough. near the heart, with a cavalry
he ball He was cursing with every =
reath and died at II o'clock last night ~
"The bodis Of Mr. Hoffman and his ~
IN were brought TO the Courthouse aud :.
IN be shipped to Washington In the -
orning. / cannot write you any more =.
the particulars now VI
+. e. Erickson. of Fremont, was lodged
Surry county Jail to-day. He Is qc-
ised of the burning of the Commercial
otel. at Claremont. last night The
otel was owned and conducted by his :,
ife. Ie