Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-27
BELIEVE HOFFMAN
WILL co TO LORTON
D. C. Jail Officials Say Condi-
tons Are Crowded at
PenitentiarieS.

Louis w. Hoffman physiothcrapiSt.
sentenced To 80 years in the penitentiary
in connection with the death OF MISS
Eleanor Lehman in his offices March
3 last. probably will serve most oil ms
term in the District reformatory at
Lorton, Va.
Crowded conditions in the Federal
penitenfiarieS at Leavenworth and At
ianta. it was explained today, apparently
makes it necessary to transfer hof1-
man from the District jail, where ne
has been incarcerated since ms arrest,
to the Iorton institution. The decision,
however rests with Capt, NJ. NJ. Barn
ard. superintendent OF penal institu-
tons.
Peak Awaits Word.
No word had been received at the
District jail today by Mai w. L. Peak as
To where Hoffman would be sent, but
the former said that the Lorton inSti-
tuition vas receiving all longtime pris-
cners ewing. To the conditions at the
two Federal prisons. No District pris-
oners have been sent to Atlanta for
over a year. he explained, and the last
group received from here at Leaven-
worth was in January,
Prisoners sentenced from 10 to Is
y
Peak explained. and in certain cases
those sentenced to serve a longer time
also are being received there. Since
Hoffman is not regarded as type that
would give trouble at the reformatory,
especially as "lail breaker" it was as
sumed by Mai. Peak that he would
be taken to Iorton very shortly.
Hoffman was sentenced yesterday
afternoon by Justice Frederick L. Sid
dons in Criminal Division of the Dis
trict Supreme Court after pleading
guilty to second-degree murder. He
had been indicted under a first-degree
charge.
Hoffman took the sentence calmly.
The minimum penalty for Second-de-
gree murder is 20 years and the maxi
mum life
Attorneys Harry W. Nice of Baltimore.
who has known the family of the
prisoner for many years. and Attorney
William E. Leahy of Washington APP
peare3 for the prisoner. Assistant
United States Attorney William II. Col
Inns represented the Government.
Amos A. Steele. probation officer,
presented to the court lengthy report
concerning the crime. Justice Siddons
had referred the case to Steele for in
vestigation. not with any idea of pro-
/ baton. but to have a fun account Of
the matter on which to base his sem
tence.
Steeie's report showed that Miss
Lehman was supposed to have died of
broken neck caused by Hoffman to
conceal an attempted operation. He
also went into detail on the testimony
Of Mrs. Dottie King. who took the
young woman to the Office of the de-
PENDANT. and Of her arrest in New Jer-
sey and her return here. where she told
different story from her evidence at
the coroner's inquest.
Hoffman's Record.
Steele told the court that Hoffman
Is divorced from his first wife and
married the second recently.
He had graduated as a nurse at
Providence Hospital in 1914 and fol-,
lowed that profession, both privately
and in hospitals. He took q course
of chiropractics but did not graduate,
but has practiced for some years Stress
was laid by some patients on the kind
ness OF Hoffman and his charity in
treating those who could not afford to
pay
Hoffman submitted TO him, Steele
said. 26-page statement. but careful
reading failed 10 throw any light on
the matter. IN view of his plea Of guilty.
Steele asserted. When Steele had point
ed out 70 Hoffman certain remarks In
his statement inconsistent with the plea
and asked him If he intended to abide
by the plea. Hoffman is said to have
answered: IF there is any danger of
the chair, do"