The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-16
PREFERS DEATH To LOVE
YOUNG GIRL so HATES SUTTOR AND
SHE CONCENTRATES SUICIDE
Pugilist's UnweIcOme Attentions
and Threats to XIII If His Affec-
ton Is Not Requited Drive
Her to Despair.

CHICAGO. April Is. = Distracted by
score of letters which contained threats
against her life, Della Hoff, seventeen
years old, was on the point of leaping
into the lake, when Detectives Duback
and Ptacek, of the Stanton avenue sta
ton, grasped her.
The writer of the threatening letters,
the girl said, was Jack Angels who
had been forcing his attentions on her.
The continued threats preyed on the
girls mind until she decided to end her
life.
Detectives Duback and Ptacek wero
seeking a thief who, they learned, had
gone toward the lake shore.
They were walking along the beach be-
tween Thtrty-sixth and Thirty
streets when they saw Miss Hoff stand
ing at the end of the 100-foot pier be-
tween the two streets.
She held her red cap in her hand and
gazed down into the water. Her dark
hair, short and curly, was blown about
her face by the wind.
Rather Drown Than Marry.
The young woman at the very end Of
the pier seemed irresolute. One foot hung
over the water and moved impatientIy
The detectives ran out to where she
stood. She turned and looked at them
and then as they seized her she burst
into tears.
I'D rather 52ynp into the lake than
marry him." she exclaimed.
The detectives then took the girl to
the Stanton avenue police station. She
refused at first to make any statement
and while sitting in chair in Lieut.
Sullivan's office began to cry.
Finally Desk Sergeant James Allen, aft
er a number of questions, succeeded in
getting the girl to speak
Worried by UnveIcome Suitor.
IT was so worried about that fellow
that | was going to jump into the lake, =
she said.
The sergeant sent detective, after the
girls mother, Mrs. A. Cherry, a rnodiste
at 80 Tkirty-third street Within a few
moments the mother arrived She ran
across the lieutenants office and threw
her arms about her daughters neck and
began sobbing. After u few minutes it
was explained to her how her daughter.
came to the station.
mo, mother" said Miss Hoff, II WASH
going to jump in. I only went to- IooH
at the water. had nothing to do at
the store.''
Mrs. Cherry said that the girl was en-
ployed on Calumet avenue, and that
she had been working there for some
time. She said for the past year and
half Jack" Angels had been forcing his
attentions ON the girl
Believes Threatening Letters.
She said that she discovered one day
that Angels was a prize fighter and had
been arrested number of times on va
rious charges. Then she refused him adj
mittance to her home or to meet her
daughter.
AS a result, she said. a letter came
threatening the girls life if she did not
ma him EtoIlOTEyiRos
letters, she asserted, making the same
threats if she had him arrested.
About month ago, she said, he met
the girl when she left her home one
evening and struck her with his fists.
Then came another letter threatening
death, she said, If Della did not marry
him. All of these letters were destroyed
by the girl against the advice of the
mother. Several other letters followed
but Were returned unopened.
Miss Hoff became respondent and
brooded much over her trouble. She told
her neither she was afraid of the young
man. Once she left her home and went
to the West side in an endeavor to hide
herself Mrs Cherry said she feared for
the young woman's sanity because Of the
trouble.
1T Is a Suicides Pier.
This story was repeated 20 Lieut.. Sui
A1Netll- AAO oNNAoCN AA1Otilcl " tame
the girl away for a. time and said he
would look after Jack" Angels.
R. Shelter told the police that he saw
the young woman on the same pier
Wednesday afternoon. RE said he spoke
to her. but could get no reply.
He said he feared she contemplated
suicide and waited there with her At
last, he said, the young woman Went
away.
The pier upon which the girl was
found by the detectives is the came one
under which Jennie Hickey's body was
found over two years ago.