Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1910-11-11
BUTCHER STAYS son
LOUIS HOFFMAN,, CEDARBURG,
ASSAILS HIS WIFE AND
CHILDREN.
INSANE BELIEF OF FRIENDS
Falls to Appreciate Enormity OF Act
Until After Being Locked UP.
When He Expresses Remorse.
Mrs. Hoffmann's Sto Y.

Cedarburg. - Supposed to have
been temporarily insane, Louis Heff-
mann, a local butcher, made a muir
derous assault upon his family, all
save his wife being as eep in their
beds. His twelve-year-old son Carl
was instantly killed, and his Wife
brother and a nephew wounded.
Hoffman,, covered with blood, was
taken into custody by Deputy Mar
shall Joseph Weber, who was attract
ed to the scene by the shots. After
being locked up, Hoffman, came to a
realization of what he had done and
was filled with remorse. He declared
that he had been drinking and did
not know what he was doing.
Mrs. Hoffman, later told the story
of the shooting. Thursday after
noon at about 4 o'clock Louis left
the house to go to visit farmer,
from whom he wished to purchase
some cattle. He was so good natured
when he left, and / remember how
glad / was to have him in such a
mood. He is man who drinks heav-
lily, and when he has been drinking
he has an awful temper.
"But he had never really been
cruel to me or the children. He was
too good hearted ever to harm us.
Why, all the neighbors will tell you
what kind, good man he is.
"We'l, my husband returned about
$3.50 and 1 noticed that he was act
ing strangely. He had not been
drinking, however. He told me that
he and the farmer could not come to
terms on the price of the cattle, but
that the farmer had promised to call
him up. About 9 o'clock he said he
would phone to the farmer"
She told her husband it was too
late to telephone, and he became
angry.
Louis succeeded in calling the
farmer to the phone and talking to
him." she continued, land after that
he acted very strangely. have seen
him in moods like that before, and ]
had ways thought that at times
like those he was sort of insane,
After 8 o'clock we ate lunch together,
and then I went to bed. l pleaded
with him to retire too, because
thought if he would go to sleep he'd
sleep off that queer fit of his. He
efused to come to bed, and it fright
ened me. Usually l can coax him tG
do most anything.
at must have been after Il
O'Clock when I heard a shot. I fol
lowed him, and he was in the room
where the children slept. Little Carr
was ying in pool of blood, ano
blood was streaming from the head
of Walter, my nephew. Charlie
Walter and Willie were in the same
room, but none of the bullets struck
them. | rushed back to my room
and shortly after that my husband
came in, holding the revolver. Ernst
his brother, walked into the room,
and, seeing him with the revolver in
his hand, said, Then it was you
Louis, who shot me- Then l Crap
pied with my husband in an attempt
to wrest the weapon from him, and
in doing so both my hands were shot
at the base of the thumbs"
DR.. o. J. Furth, who cared for the
woman and the wounded boy, said
that Mrs. Hoffman, and her nephew,
Walter hoffman,, aged IT, would re-
cover un ess something unforeseen
happened.
Ernest Hoffman, was shot in his
nose, the bullet coming out back OF
the right ear" said DR.. Furth. '"Tht
bullet which struck Walter passed
through the back of his head, anc
flattened against his skull. l re-
moved the bullet. His is miracu
lous escape"