Los Angeles herald., 1906-01-09
HOFFMAN IS FREE
FOR ONE MINUTE
SECURES RELEASE; AT ONCE
IS REARRESTED
Bride of Only Few Weeks With Hus-
band in Court Room-Dramatic
Scene Enacted When Sec
ond Charge Is Read

Just one minute of ~ erty was al
lowed Claude l.. Hoffman yesterday as
he stood before Judge Smith i'm the
superior court ai-d was discharged from
the custody of the police on habcas
corpus proceedings. As he turned to
greet his wife and leave the court room,
without even the courtesy generally aC-
corded a prisoner. he waJ placed under
arrest by police officers for the same
offense.
Hoffman came from Missouri about
a month ago. He was a partner in a
prominent contracting firm and he
came west to marry. The marriage was
celebrated in Denver, and with his
pretty young wife he came to Los AM
geles and arrived here Christmas eve.
He was arrested by Detective Harvey
Davis at that time on warrant charg-
ing endorsement. In the information
1T was alleged that Hoffman had en-
bezzled $4OO of the firms money from
William Chittenden, his partner in St.
Joseph, Mo.
Secures Release
Attorney Appel representing Hoff-
man, took an appeal to the superior
court and petitioned his clients release
on writ Of habeas corpus In the
meantime the young wife was scarcely
able to support herself, but received aid
from relatives in the east. According
to her statements, the detectives en-
tered her room, and without search
warrant opened the trunks, scattered
her wearing apparel about the room
and carted everything of value to the
police station, leaving all her clothing
piled up on the floor.
Yesterday when the hearing on the
habeaS corpus case was called before
Judge Smith one of the most brilliant
technical petitions in the history of
California courts was mace by Attorney
Appel.
His contention that because of the
fact that the information in Missouri
had been made upon the simple belief
of the district attorney of Buchanan
county and not upon the sworn knowl-
edge of the petitioner made the papers
illegal was sustained by Judge Smith.
Mrs. Hoffman was sitting beside her
husband when the verdict of discharge
was read. The man seemed dazed, but
his wife stopped quickly and whispered
the welcome news.
Again Arrested
AS Hoffman, arose to thank his at
torney Attorney Fleming, for the dis
trict attorneys office, had one more
card to play. He had prepared a new
information against the prisoner. and
before Hoffman could even leave the
court room the detectives placed him
under arrest.
Attorney Appel objected and took
Hoffman to his office, where later, after
the proper papers had been secured, he
was arrested.
Hoffman was arraiEned late Yester-
day afternoon before Justice Young on
the fugitive charge. But again Attor-
ney Appel is preparing a defense and
Hoffman may not be compelled to go
back to Missouri
81 understand this case thoroughly"
said Mrs. Hoffman yesterday, land if
it is anything at all it is nothing more
than a civil case"
The young woman then produced let
ters from Missouri which practically
substantiated her statement.
"IIowever we shall stay here and
fight this out" she continued. I'VE
had prepared to go back to Missouri
following our honeymoon, but if they
want to fight they shall get all they
want. We are going back to Missouri,
but my husband will not go as II fugi-
tive if 1 can prevent it,