Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-15
Recital of His Crime at Trial
In Cherokee Too Much For
the Murderer
REMoRsE RACKS THE PRISONER
Witnesses Give Narrowing Details of
the Crime and the Story Has Effect
On ,the Murderer-sccond Trial At.
tracing Much Interest at Cherokee
Story of Hortman's Crime,
special to Times Republican.

OIL MS SWeeHeuCl, Florence FOrleT,
three years ago, Harry HOFFMAN yes
terday morning broke down in district
the trial by sobs that echoed thru tho
court room.
The young man, nrvous and broken
by long confinement and remorse. Hs-
tened to the cold relation of witness
| after witness OF the manner in which he
took the girl in his arms and shot her
life away, finally unable to control
himself longer. bowed his head upon
the table, and gave piteous vent to his
terrible grief.
AS for the trial itself, he should have
been of better cheer, for witnesses for
the state even tended to corroborate
the claim of the defense that he was
insane from dissipation when he COM
ted the crime.
A number of the witnesses related
that Hortman said Immediately after
the murder:
whisky did 1T. You see what booze
has brought me to"
The first witness was Mrs. Herbert
Grotz. employed in the kitchen Of c.
IL. w llllS lCot0uittiil NiiCiS thiS SAiSSS
ing took place. She said she was In
her room on Nov. 80, 1901. HOFFMAN
came and asked her where Florence
Porter was. She replied that she was
in her own room. Soon she heard Miss
Porter calling for Mrs. Phinney. She
went to the door of the room and saw
Hortman with a revolver in his hand.
She went back. She saw HOFFMAN anu
the girl come out and as they went
down the stairs HOFFMAN fired two
shots. She heard Mrs. White say to
Hortman:
"Have you hurt Florence?"
yes" replied HOFFMAN. Il have
shot her and l hope l have killed
her."
Mrs. Matte Phinney testified that
she heard Florence calling her. She
went to the door of the room ana
Florence asked her to help take re-
volver away from HOFFMAN.
You hadn't better" said Hortman;
this is a case Of love-"
Mrs. Tessie White, wife of G. q.
White, gave a repetition OF the teStl-
mony of others. Mrs. Mabel Graham
was approaching the restaurant. She
heard the shots fired, and saw the girl
after the shooting. Miss Edna White
was in an adjoining room. She heard
a scuffle and call for aid. She went
to the door and saw Hortman with his
arm around the girl and revolver
pointed at her. She heard three shots.
She saw Miss Porter come to tho
kitchen door, fall and get UP and go
on. Soon she fell again.
Dr. ]. II. Burlingame, who was may
or of the town at the time. told of the
delivery Of Hortman to him by G. +.
White, also statements made by Hort
man at the time. When Hortman was
brought In, DIR. Burlingame testified,
he said to him:
Whisky done It,"
There was nothing in the appearance
of Hortman to show that he was in
toxicated, said the doctor. He asked
him when he had been drinking before.
and HOFFMAN replied:
ION Thanksgiving day."
G. M. Gillet. an attorney OF Chero-
kee, told of the circumstances relat-
ing to the murder and statements made
by Hortman. He told Of the delivery
Of Hortman to Mayor Burlingame.
Hortman told him II have shot
Florence Porter. and am glad of it."
Later Hortman placed his hand on
Gilbert's shoulder and said:
Guy. you see what booze has
brought me to-"
J, II. Palmer, a painter. told of SEE
ing White take HOFFMAN down the
street to the mayors office. White
said: This man has shot one of my
girls, get me an officer" Palmer said
that he secured the officer as re-
quested.
Story Of the Crime. 666
The trial of Harry HOFFMAN at Cher
okee. charged with the murder of his
sweetheart, a crime for which he once
was sentenced to hang, is being watch
ed with much interest.
The fellow shot the girl in cold blood
and pleaded guilty. Judge Wakefield
sentenced him to death on March IL,
1908. That was In January, 1902. The
supreme court reversed the finding OF
the lower court.
Hortman shot the girl because she
wouldn't marry him. That was on NO
vember 80. 1901. She died December 8.
Hortman was brought to trial latter
part of January, 1902, and pleaded
guilty. Judge Wakefield heard test1-
mony for two days before pronouncing
Judgment.
A most dramatic scene was enacted
when on his way back to his cell, Hort
man threw himself on his knees before
Mr.. Porter the father of the murdered
girl and prayed for forgiveness. The
bereaved parent turned coldly away
and Hortman staggered to his feet and
went with the officers weeping. Later.
however, Mr.. Porter sought Hortman in
the Jail and generously forgave him.
Mrs. HOFFMAN, mother Of the condemn
ed man. was Frustrated by the awful
ness of the sentence. and had to be
helped from the court room.
Hortman's crime was extremely
cold blooded. Early Saturday evening
November 80, he went to the White
hotel. determined that Miss Porter
should reciprocate his love, and prom
Use to marry him. She had been going
with him previously, but for some
weeks back had refused his attentions.
claiming he was not gentlemanly in his
treatment of her. Calling the girl into
a hallway Hortman renewed his offer
of marriage, and when refused began
to threaten. Frightened, the girl start
ed to run down stairs, and HOFFMAN,
drawing "A revolver which he had pro-
cured but a short time before, shot her
three times in the back. Mr.. White, the
proprietor of the place, had warned