The Ordway new era., 1906-08-24

records Of the post ONCE showed that
registered letter had been received
oy hoffman In Higginsville from
MIS- Myers In Kansas City two days
before the murder.
How Hoffman Was Found.
inc next thing to do was to find
FRANK Hoffman. His parents said he
had gone away to look for work short.
~ before the murder OF Clarence My.
ers In Kansas City. The detective
thought 1t likely that Hoffman would
write to his folks. The postmaster
promised to hold any letter that
might come to the Hoffman family,
and to notify the detective. who re-
turned to Kansas City and waited.
| Within week letter came from
Walla Waila. Wash. The postmaster
sent for the detective. Together they
opened the letter. 1t was from Hott
man. who was living there under an
assumed name. Armed with requisi-
| ton papers the detective went to
Walla Walla and arrested Hoffman.
How did you find out where
was?' was the first question Hoffman
asked the detective.
I'VE discovered you through Mrs.
Myers said the detective. "She has
confessed all and is In Jail in Kan
sas City. She says that you were in
love with her and that you sneaked
into the house with your face black.
ened like a negro and that you mur.
dered her husband so she would be
free to marry you"
She puts 1t all on me, does she?"
asked Hoffman.
Yes. she will turn states evidence
and hang you and go free herself"
answered the detective.
She's liar: she did 1t herself!"
Hoffman exclaimed, and then he told
the whole horrible story. The truth
since by circumstances.
| The confession of Hoffman is a
document In human ferocity scarcely
/ equaled in criminal annals. He told
OF his early friend ship for the slain
man. the development of love be-
/ tween him and the wife and how to-
| gether they planned the removal of
the innocent barrier to that love. Had
not Myers awakened as Hoffman
! crept upon him. armed with billiard
cue. the wife might have been but a
tacit accessory to the murder. AS 1t
/ transpired she became the more
/ guilty. for on seeing her husband
struggling for his life she disregard.
ed his cries for assistance and merci-
| lessly attacked him first with bed
slat, then with pair OF scissors. and
finally and successfully with his own
razor.
Fer Remarkable Nerve.
She then turned up the flame OF the
lamp. She gave Hoffman one OF her
husbands clean shirts and pair OF
cuffs from drawer. and her hus-
bands hat He wore these away, and
was wearing them when the detec-
tIyes arrested him In Washington.
He washed the blood from his hands
She gave him $40 and he slipped out
into the night, leaving her alone In
the house with all its ghastllness.
That is the one almost incompre-
hensible thing about this whole hor-
rible affair II is difficult TO believe
that a frail woman OF 20 would stay
there alone from midnight until day.
light. Hut she did. And she probably
worked hard most of the time. She
washed the blood from her arms and
feet. burned her bloody nightdress
and put on fresh one, and was then
ready to be discovered.
Hoffman was tried first and con.
victed lie made no defense. Thep
she was tried. and Hoffman testified
against her and told the whole story
from the witness stand. She testi.
fed too. In her own behalf and said
| Hoffman was liar.
She contends to this day that sho
is innocent. III J am TO be hanged
| will have no confession to make;
I'VE told the whole truth" she said.
III they hang me | will have one con-
. ISOLATION: will know that will soon
meet my husband in heaven"