The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-10-26
DR.. VAN IELBuRG-H0FMAN DIES BY
HIS OWN HAND.
he Would Net Face Disgrace Following
Exposure of Brutal Treatment o! His
Wife--.Sad and Tragic Ending of
a Talented Foreigner.
From the Daily Item, Oct. q.

a Talented Foreigner.
From the Daily Item, Oct. "a.
This city was shocked and borri6ed
about 9 O'Clock a. m. Monday by most
horrible and grewsome tragedy that
has occurred here in many years. DR..
Van Telberg- II ofman, the division sur
geop of the Atlantic Coast Line relief
department committed suicide in the
sitting room of his home on South
Main street, double barrel shot gun
being the weapon with which be took
his life. He placed the muzzle OF
the gun against the left side OF his
head inst sbove the corner OF the eye
and when the gun was discharged the
whole side and top of his head was
blown off. The brains and blood were
shattered over the walls and ceiling
Of the room and pieces of the skull
were scattered over the floor. Death
was instantaneous and when the hrst
person reached him few moments at
ter the discharge Of the gun ne was
lying stretched on his back on the
floor of the room just within the
door connecting that room with the
hall with his head near the wall In a
great pool Of blood and the gun was
lying across his body.
An INQUEST was held at 1890 O'Clock
by Coroner Flowers:
The following testimony was taken !:
DR.. j. a. Mood: About half past
nine o'clock this morning / was hur-
ridly called to see Mrs. Van Telberg-
Holman and was told that DR.. Holman,
who was atShis home next door was
probably hurt. On going into the
room I found the Doctor lying on his
back with double barrel shot gun
lyng across his body. The entire
upper part of the skull was torn away
by the discharge of the gun which
had evidently been held close to his
head. From the statement made by
his wife to me am satisfied that his
death was an act Of self destruction.
q. j. Seymour, policeman: just as
the bell struck 8 o'clock ! was going
to the depot and as was passing the
house was called into Mrs. tDuckers.
When 1 got In I found Mrs. Holman
there. She was very bloody. She
seemed to have a wound over her right
eye. telephoned for Chief Of Police
Bradford to come there at once. At
tie same time DR.. Mood was telephon-
ed for and be got there before Chief
Bradford did. He went in to see
Mrs. Holman. Then Dr.. Mood and
] went over to Dr., Hofman's house
and found the body lying just as it is
now. I heard no words or anything
did not hear the gun shoot. There
was no one in the house when l went
In.
Rebecca Spaun. cook for Dr.. Hof-
man: They CDR. ard Mrs. Hofman1
were quarreling at the breakfast table.
but what they we're quarling about l
don't know. I did not hear any
threats made. I did not find out that
the Doctor was shot until after the
Chief of Police came in.
Mrs. Ella Hewson, who boarded
with Dr. and Mrs. Holman: All
that I know about it is that when |
went TO eat my breakfast heard some
screaming and thought it was some
children. I did not know that they
cdr. and Mrs. Hofman) had quar-
relied, never heard any threats made
any way. I knew that they were not
on good terms yesterday.
James Fielder, driver and house
boy for DR.. Holman: l was in the
kitchen by the stove during breakfast.
II heard DR.. Holman say that she
Mrs. Hofman) would have to leave
or ne would. I went out to catch the
horse. When I came back Mrs.
Eewson told me that~she thought DR..
Holman had killed himself. Mrs.
Holman left the dining room first.
They have been quarreling ever since
they came back from Charleston on
| Wednesday OF Thursday of last week.
/ I did not know the cause Of the
quarrel.
The jury of which Mr.. R. F. Hayns-
worth was foreman rendered a verdict
that the deceased DR.. Van Telberg-
| Holman came to his death from 8
gon shot wound inflicted by lis own
hand.
That is the official side Of thls
shocking tragedy, but 1t is not al!
of it nor the saddest part. The col
lateral facts as they have been gather
ed from trustworthy sources of lnfor
nation are about as follows:
! DR.. Holman and his wife have not
lived happily together for severa
years and on more than one occasion
1 he had beat her severely. On one oc
casion at least she was so brutal!
beaten that she called in another ply
sician to see her day or two latel
during DR.. Hofman's absence from
the city. This physician saw DR.
Holman personally as soon as ne re
turned and told him plainly that i
be ever abused his wife again tina
he world EXPOSE him and see that be