The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-06-02
SUDDEN DEATH,
Henry Hofmeaer Dies in an Automobile
while on Trip to Fairview.

ms ms community was startled and shock
IL Hanrn hmufsiaay morning by, the news that
respected, Industrious resident of Oroyille
llad died suddenly in an automobile while
on u pleasure trip to Fairview, b. C.,
some ~ miles north of town.
1t is learned that Wednesday afternoon
NJ. NE. Hofmeaer in company with A. j.
wicker sham, Angus Mclean and Lester
hlrimstrohg lett for Fairview on merely a
Al ~ O'CLOCK that evening the auto drove
up TO Or. Lewis residence, and he was
informed nII that something was wrong wit
since the party left Fairview and could
not be aroused. The doctor hastily exam
% med the presumably unconscious man.
was taken to the Barnes undertaken
parlors. Mr.. Barnes did not examine the
remains ha ans until Thursday morning. when
right side of the forehead that appeared
as If caused by a blow, and fearing that
there might have been "a tragedy connect
ed with the sudden death Mr.. Barnes had
Marshal Wilson notify the county off
cials. Sheriff Stark, Deputy Sheriffs Ward
and Burden and Marshal Wilson commen-
Thursday, and the coroner and prosecut-
ing attorney were sent for. Up to the time
of going to, press the officials had not
completed their Investigations.
In an interview Mr. Wickersham
we We're In the bar room of the hotel
ana Mr. Hofmeaer, who had taken
few drinks, walked out and got into
the car. We (meaning the balance of tn,
party had supper and then joined Mr..
liofmeaer at the car and started home.
Mr. Hofmeaer was sitting up in the i,
like IA major When we reached a point
near town spoke to the others, telling
en- to wake up If any of them were
asleep 1t was then discovered that some
thing was wrong with Mr.. Hofmeaer. as
he would not. or could not speak. l drove
Immediately to DR.. Lewis office and not
finding him, continued on to his resi-
ftAr .ttN,.t t.px
stated that Mr.. Hofmeaer was dead"
The deceased was SO years of age. a
native of Germany, but resident of the
and thoroughly imbued with the spirit of
Americanism. He was gentle, kindly, in
offensive. and it seems impossible that he
leaves wife and family, his eldest daugh-
ter being the wife of Morris Walmer.
Mother and daughter are Frustrated by
husband and a kind and affectionate
ather. The date OF the funeral has not
been fixed. 1t will probably be in charge
% %as the e ye f the the
The publication of the Gazette was held
able to pnSsh os the spss Verdict bu
az the close Of taking testimony. at near
by midnight Thursday, more evidence de-
veloped and the. hearing was continued
Prosecuting AftSrsnd'esy johnson ana Cor
oner DR.. Carmichael came up from Okla
hogan about 8 p M, Thursday. The two
doctors, Lewis and Carmichael examined
the remains and decided that a post NOR
TEN was necessary A bruise was found
upon the right side of the forehead, with
a clot of blood between the scalp and the
skull The internal organs were found In
u healthy condition. The skull was not
fractured, but the blow could have caus-
ed death. The bruise could have been
made by blow or fall.
The three companions of Hofmeaer,
Wickersham, Armstrong and Mclean,
could throw little light on the case. They
claimed that deceased was in the bar
room not over 80 minutes, went out as
they supposed to get into the car. Upward
of two hours afterward, at dusk, when
they got in the car to come home Hof-
meaer was sitting in the back seat, with
the laprobe around him, evidently asleep.
He did not speak or move out of that po-
siton on the trip down, and his condition
was only discovered this side of the boun-
dary line. From the testimony 1t was ev-
dey.t that the party was somewhat under
tie influence of liquor, Armstrong espec-
ia'ly. The case is most mysterious one
and further evidence may throw more
LIGHT on it at this mornings hearing.