The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-12
ON
MYSTERY IN
HER SUICIDE
6contipued from First page,

the charge of sssauIting little Gladys.
and that, therefore, it was feared that
the important paper from the New York
bank president might be misused or
entirely destroyed IL 1t were not care
fully guarded by the officers of the
court.
The quarrel between relatives and
officials has barred a strange life of adj
venturous romance, with Philadelphia
as the scene of the first chapter twenty
years ago, when Mrs. Hoffman was the
beautiful and accomplished Madeline
McGarry.
So far the vineland officials, with little
Gladys, have the upper hand; have full
possession of all Mrs. Hofman's papers
and valuables and buried her yesterday
in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, with
Gladys and a few tradespeople with whom
Mrs. Hoffman spent her allowance, as the
only mourners. Relatives of the woman
have started proceedings to have the body
disinterred and transferred to the Nc
Garry family vault, in Philadelphia. There
will p%robsbly be no opposition to the
transfer. but the Vineland authorities and
the Childrep's Aid Society will fight to
the last to keep Mrs. Hoffman's papers
and orphan daughter.
" 80 . a'As = NAAA NlN0 b01N NJ
ests OF the little girl" said Coroner Hal
sey. In explaining why he turned over
Mrs. Hoffnlan's papers to DR.. George
Cunningham and her daughter to the chill
dren's Aid Society. II knew Mrs. Hoff-
man had a bitter quarrel with her
relatives over the estate of her mother. l
knew that Mrs. Fry, Mrs. Hoffman's sister,
had been convicted two years ago on the
charge of assaulting little Gladys when the
nhilI AZ t,,a N hAre UNru'u horne nv on
errand for her mother. Then / was afraid
that If the relatives got possession of her
papers they might not use them with dis
erection. 1t is hard enough for the child to
face the world alone at the age of u years,
and / think she is entitled to what she gets
from her father. l have been Inspired only
with an interest in the child's future In
what l lave done, and | don't care q rap
what criticism L get for it. All l care for
is that the child's future is protected so
that she will be supported and get a decent
education"
Coroner Halsey said emphatically that
he did not know the name Of Gladys's
father. and DIR. Cunningham, with Judge
fuller. refused absolutely to divulge the
identity of the banker. Il shall under, no
circumstances give out that information
said Judge fuller. 1T can serve no good
purpose TO Expose the man"
mot for $1,000 would / give out the
name of Gladys's father said DR.. Cum
bingham. "He is q good man. He has
treated both Mrs. Hoffman and Gladys
generously, and | have every reason to
believe that he will continue TO do So
Among Mrs. Hoffman'S effects were also
letters showing that she received q stlpu-
lated allowance regularly through the law
firm of Rastus S. Ransom, Of 1913 Broad
way, New York Ransom at one time was
the law partner of the late President
Chester A. Arthur. In the story of her
life by Mrs. Hoffman to DR.. Cunningham
and other friends she spoke always in the
highest terms of affection about the New
York father of her child, who for more
than ten years has discharged his self
imposed obligations toward his child and
its mother. Only additional mystery has
been given to the entire affair by the
angry remark of Mrs. Hoffman's brother,
Joseph McGarry, of Asheville, N. c., who,
when he was refused barge Of the body.
declared that Gladys was not the child Of
his sister.
Mrs. Hoffman's own story OF her life, as
related to friends, is hat the trouble be-
tween her and her relatives began when
she changed her religion. She was a
young girl then, and in a runaway match
married a young college student, who,
after stormy encounters with his family,
separated from his young bride. and is
since supposed to have died as DIR. Hoff-
man, of Lancaster.
Mrs. Hoffman then secured employment
with the late Charles X. lands, the
founder of Vineland, as u bookkeeper aud
stenographer in his Philadelphia office, at
522 Walnut street. Mrs. Hoffman's broth
er-in-laV, Marcus Fry, Of Viueland, was
go, 49, fha onnGdNpffaI man IF
Lands. Gossip in Vineland spread scan
DIAL about Lands and his beautiful book
keeper, but then Mrs. Hoffman dlsap-
peared. She returned from Paris about
ten years ago with her little girl, and
before her death explained that she was
taken 10 France by her New York friend,
who supported her and educated her with
such earnest interest that a French school
of learning awarded her a gold medal for
her literary accomplishments in the for
eign tongue, which she spoke luently and
which was the only language spoken by
little Gladys when she arrived in Vineland
six years ngo. The French medal has
been found among Mrs. Hoffman's effects.
According to Mrs. Hoffman's story of
life, she was brought back to this
country because her benefactor desired
to live honestly with his family.
AFTER Her return 10 America, MIS-.
Hoffman became a nervous wreck and
was for several months a patient in n
private sanitarium in Philadelphia. She
recovered so well that her beauty returned
and she married DR.. Barnes. a New York
dentist. Last winter DR.. Barnes secured
a divorce OF the ground Of desertion!
Meantime Mrs. Hoffman failed rapidly.
Her generous allowance did not suffice.
She ran deeper and deeper into debt.
Then her moth err died, and she quarreled
with her sisters about the division of the
estate.
At last Mrs. Hoffman vas so deeply in
volved that she appealed to her brother
from North Carolina. The brother visited
Vineland last Saturday, and Mrs. Heff-
man told DR.. Cunningham that night that
her brother would take her away to his
with Gladys next morning. The
went from Mrs. Hoffman to visit
the Fry family, and did not return TO the
hotel where Mrs. Hoffman lived. Instead
of the brother, Fry came for his baggage
and said the brother had gone home.
Mrs. Hoffman then felt that her last
friend had deserted her. said Or. Gun
nRham