The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-06-20
SUICIDED.
chas. Hoffmire Takes His Own
Life by Hanging.

morning about ten O'Clock in barn
of his father-in-law, Stephen Hickox,
near Union Mills. The man was
Respondent over imaginary Sights
and did not care to go back to his
home. He was about AZ years of age
and leaves wife and little daughter
about 8 years old,
There is Union church near Tioga,
the several denominations to be found
in the neighborhood joining in the
support and maintenance of the or
ganization. 1t seems that there has
been little dissentions arising between
this and that part of the church and
quite lively tilt occurred over some
of the arrangements made for chill
dren's day. Mr.. Hoffmire was en-
gagged in the controversy and he
seemed to take greatly to heart some
of the things said and done. He
brooded over the affair for some time
but it seemed to pass away from his
mind and he resumed his wonted
cheerfulness. Thursday last he went
out into his field to pillow and his wife
started to pick cherries. He returned
to the house in a short time and said
that be would stay with his wife as
she was not we'll enough to work too
much. He assisted her about the
household duties during that day and
also on Friday he remained about the
house, seemingly in a thoughtful
mood. 1t had been talked of going to
the home of the wife's father, Steven
Hickox, near Union Mills, to spend
Sunday. Hoffmire announced Thurs
day that he was not going and so the
wife gave upthe trip. Saturday morn
ing he announced that they would go
and told his wife to make prepare
tions for the TIP. He "put the place
to rights" in careful and methodical
way and Saturday afternoon drove to
the Hickox place with his wife and
daughter. Hoffmire seemed to be in
his usual good spirits and a very
pleasant visit was had. The husband
o"OAO oOLhO JlLlO NuA ing lLlC anu
finding the wife awake he commenced
to talking to her about not going back
to their home any more. She was
surprised and did not understand
him, He asked her If she thought
that she had strength enough to bear
anything that might happen as he did
- - kIoin hnpnn
Everything and everybody was
against him there. Mrs. Hoffmire
talked him out of the notion of not
going back and the man went to sleep
again. Sunday morning Hoffmire
went out with Hickox and engaged in
some of the duties about the place.
He was seen to go to the stable a
number of times and to fool about the
place as If searching for something.
1t had been planned to go to the
Dunkard church after breakfast and
plans to that end were being made.
A neighbor came by the place and
called out that they were waiting for
them at the church. Mrs. Hoffmire
told her husband to hurry in his
preparations. He arose from his
chair in the house where he had been
resting for some time and went ir-
med ately to the barn presumably to
get the team sTwenty minutes passed
and he did.not return. Mrs. Hoffmire
called and no answer was received.
She went to the barn and did not see
her husband. She looked through
some out-buildings with like result
and then occurred to her the con-
versation held during the night and
its possible meaning. She returned
to the barn and looked in the loft.
The husband was hanging from a
rafter inSthe barn loft with a halter
around his neck. The woman scream
ed for help. Mr.. Hickox, who is
crippled, had to call for help as he
could beSof little assistance in the
case, and it was several minutes be-
fore help could be secured. When
the body was taken down the last
spark OF llI6 ndu lieu.
Coroner Eugene Cheesman, of this
city, was called and went to the place
Immediately. After hearing of the
circumstances of the suicide he de-
termined that an inquest was I'M
necessary.
1t is supposed that the mind Of the
deceased had become unbalanced.
He has lately been very Jealous in re-
ligious affairs of the neighborhood
and was recently bsptised.
Mr.. Hoffmire was man who took
much interest In all that was going
on about him and was prominent
figure in:his neighborhood. He and
his wife also were prominent church
workers. and both taught classes in
the Sunday school. He was a mem
Der of the school board and was also
township. assessor. The family was
prosperous and the man had every
reason to be contented and happy.
The friction in the neighborhood was
OF the most trivial nature and was
forgotten as soon as begun, but these
Affairs coupled with his other mental
strains had evidently caused tenn
porary arrangement.
The funeral was held at two O'Clock
Monday afternoon at the Dunkard