Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-30
MYSTERY ENVELOPS
YOUTHS SHOOTING
BY LOCAL RANCHER
Companions Say Attack
Was Surprise and
Unwarranted
MOTHER Is COMING
Hospital Officials Give
Little Hope for
Recovery

Jack Schaffer, % years old, of
l67 East Center street, Pomona, is
i'll dying condition at the Ell Gen.
tro hospital, and D. B. Hoffman,
rancher of lockwood is a prisoner
as a. result Of a shooting. scrape
near Hoffman's S ranch last. night
about 10 O'Clock.
s.chaffcr 5 condition this morn
ln@ waS too weak to allow him TO
wa&e "a staemqnt to District At
aaaes +. s. Fey, bat his compan-
80 n4ght, James Fl. Schell
and Donald M. Corneliuson, also of
Pomona, told "a story to the sher-
iff's office that would Indicate un-
usual cold bloodedness on Hoff-
man s part.
According to the boys story,
Schell had been working for Hoff.
man earlier in the week, but left
his employ Tuesday. Last night
they started to the ranch, to see
one of Hoffman S other EMPLOYEES.
A short distance from the ranch,
they broke n shock absorber on the
ear, and stopped to fix it. Schell,
remembering that tractor had
been working on Hoffman S place,
suggested they drive there and get
some bailing wire to fix the brok-
en- part. Upon arrival at the ranch
they stopped the ear and Schell and
Corneliuson jumped the fence and
started toward the tractor. Schaffer
remained seated on the running
board of their ear.
Hear Three Shots
He had been sitting there only (,
few minutes according to the other
boys. when they heard two shots,
and Immediately started toward the
ear. Another shot was heard, and
they were Mortified upon arriving
at the car to find Schaffer crumpl-
ed up with II bullet wound through
his chest, while Hoffman stood
nearby with still sn oking .3S eal-
ibre Colt revolver in his hand. Hoff-
man, the boys said, refused to as
sist them in getting the injured boy
to a physician. His wife, who had
accompanied him to the car, was
terrified at what had happened and
fled back to the house. With the
assistance of neighbors, a physician
was summoned and Schaffer rush.
ed to the hospital, where examina-
tion showed the bullet had struck
him in the chest and came out in
the lower part of his back.
Officers from Brawiev were sum
moned and placed Hoffman under
the Woman s Auxiliary held de-
Centre Jail and according TO the
jail officials, stated he thought the
boys were trying to raid his canta-
loupe field. The first two shots he
fired in the air to frighten them,
he said, but he refused to talk
about the shooting of Schaffer.
When questioned by District At
torney Utley at the Jail this morn
ing, Hoffman refused to make any
saving his attorney lad
told him not to talk. He appeared
Nlsibly nervous, and asked abe :
Schaffer s condition. When y
he had but fighting chance q
live, he made no comment.
The boys disclaimed any inten-
tion to bother Hoffman in any
way, and maintained they had on
ly sought small piece of balng
wire on his premises, and denied
claims made last night by Hoffman
that he believed they were trying
to induce his help TO leave his en-
ploy.
At the time of going to press
Schaffer was still very weak and
the hospital authorities said his
chances of recovery are doubtful.
His mother, who lives in Pomona,
has been notified and expected
hcre tonight Schell and Cormeliu.
SON are not held IN custody but
Aavr hera aIructed TO remain in
.'> "HL htir testimony will
.t occurred.
Hoffman has operated ranch
near lockwood for several years
and has heretofore borne good
reputation.
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