The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-05-30
II Have Come to Kill You,"
Says Isadore Hoffman,
Leveling Gun in His
Own Home.
SON VAINLY TRIES
TO PROTECT VICTIM
Cause of Double Tragedy Pre-
sumed to BE Suit Which
Wife, Alleging Desertion,
Brought for Divorce.

- iol OlN vi W.
TEAJING into his own home, Tsa.
dore Hoffman. a Jew peddler. shot
and killed his wife as she was
~ about to get into bed at II o'clock
last night. and then fired bullet
into his own brain, dying instantly. Mrs.
hoffman lived ten minutes. dying just as
The police entered the house.
The tragedy was enacted in the little
cottage OF the Hofmans at 10I1 South
First West street. before the eyes OF
their three children. The eldest, Louis
boy OF 10 years, ran to his mothers
aid, but was forced. under penalty OF
death to himself to stand helpless while
the murderous fire went on
Slayer Forces Entrance.
Hoffman forced an entrance 10 his own
horne by pryinc open the kitchen WIN
dow and entering In his stocking feet
He made his way TO his wifes bedroom,
threw open the door and confronted her
with the gun leveled
Il have come to kill you," was his
only comment. Mrs. Hoffman screamed
drowned the cry. The boy, Louis, was
mother screamed With one bound he
was at her bedroom door. lie stepped
between his parents, but was swept aside
by his father.
Get out of the way OF Iii kill YOU.
too, cried the murderer, One shot al
ready had taken effect and Mrs. Hoff-
man WAS struggling silently on the bed
with bullet through her neck Then
before the eyes of his son, Hoffman de-
Iberately fired a second shot. 1t struck
the woman in the left temple.
Blows Out His Brains.
With cry OF anguish the boy hurled
himself at his father, who stepped from
the room, Knocked over his two little
daughters. who had come sleepily from
their beds in an adjoining room, and
fled to the kitchen. He started 10 climb
from the window through which he had
entered. but suddenly stepped back into
tho room and raised the still smoking
revolver TO his right temple He fired
once and fell dead.
Hoffman killed his wife, ii is pre-
sumed. because she brought suit for di-
vorce. The suit was filed three weeks
ago in the district court charging de-
sertion and failure TO provide. Hoff
man was In Cache county at the time.
The papers were served upon him In
Logan two days ago. He was travelling
through the county. peddliny. His wife,
according to the children. knew moth
ing OF his presence in the city until he
in har in har
Scene of Terror.
The double tragedy Was the occasion
-or the widest excitement IN the neigh
oorhood When the police arrived ten
minutes later the house was completely
,verrun with neghbors. The hoy lay on
he floor near his dying mother. sobbing
and moaning. The oldest girl. Lea, aged
IA years, was hysterical and the youngest
child, a girl OF years, stood by in wide
eyed wondormeut.
The police found Mrs. Hoffman be-
yond all aid. In fact. shc died moment
after Detectives Seager and Cleveland
.eached her side The hrst bullet shat
cred her spinal column and the second
pierced 10 The brain.
Hoffman was foEn0 StretCntS' upon ms
back la the Kitchen, his head lying In
, still widening pool OF blood. Death had
,een instantaneous with him. Just out
side the Kitchen window were found HIS
,hoes, which he had removed, evidently
O muffle the sound of his footsteps as
,e made his way through the house
The police believe Hoffman Intended TO
;IlI his wife and escape without being
cen. That the presence OF the children
however. bafflcd him In this plan and he
uddcnlv decided To take his own lfci is
heir theory.
Hoffman was well known in the jew
,b ncishhorhood in which he livod Ho
vas AZ years OF age. He came TO salt
axe from Minneapolis six years ago
nd had resided at the scene OF the
raSedy since then, with the exception
[ frequent excursions into the sur
oundng territory in pursuance, OF his
rade.
Result of Strife.
According 10 neishbors. the first rift In
he domestic life of the Hoffmans came
wo wears ago. Since then he had spent
nost OF his time away from home and
5 said 10 have taken to drink ana 70
alnbling his earnings. He came home
Or Easter Sunday, spending three days
18th his wife. SO far rs is known there
No ,r,,,,.rel that time. The di