Evening star., 1928-04-17
HOFFMAN INDICTED
ON MURDER CHARGE
Accused on Three Counts OF
FirSt.Degree Crime in
Death of Girl.

Louis w. Hoffman. physiotherapist
vas indicted for first degree nun der
today by the District grand jury and
an additional indictment charging the
use Of an instrument in attempt TO
perform a criminal operation was also
returned against him The two indict-
ments result from the death March 3.
In Hofrman's Office. Of Miss Eleanor NJ.
Lehman. 23-ycar-old typist.
Hoffman is charged by the grand Jury
with "wiiifully and puTposely" causing
Miss Lehman'S death by turning and
twisting" her head and neck and
thereby fracturing II.
United States Attorney Leo a. Rover
expects 10 put Hoffman on trial for his
life about May 10. Miss Pearl McLal
and William H Collins. assistant United
States attorneys. win handle the case
for the Government.
Faces Death In Chair.
There are three counts In the first
indictment. The first two relate 10 the
alleged attempted illegal operation. In
the third count Hoffman Is charged
with "contriving and intending 10 Kali
Miss Lehman by "felunsously, willfuliy
and purposely" twisting her neck and
shaking her head by the use Of his
hands and arms.
The penalty for frst degree murder
is death in the electric chair. with the
sentence mandatory The penalty fer
conviction under the second indictment
Is from 10 20 years IN the peniien-
tiary. In the murder indictment the
first two counts are brought under a
provision of the law that, II any pet son.
while attempting 10 commit an otfense
for which the penalty Is Imprisonment
In the penitcntiary. causes the death OF
another Intentionally or otherwise.
such person Is guilty of frst-degree
murder.
Harry w. Nice OF Baltimore. former
States attorney. has been retained by
Hoffman's father 10 assist IN his de-
Tense. At the request OF Mr. Nice a
date for the trial will probably be fixed
about the middle oi May.
Follows Double Probe.
The indictments against Hoffman fol-
low an investigation conducted by the
homicide squad of the Police Depart
ment. al the request OF Miss Mccall.
into all the conditions surrounding the
death OF Miss Lehman In Hoifman's s
affice. In the Victor Building, March g..
An autopsy performed by Dr A. M.
Mcdonald deputy coroner, Immediately
after the girls death. showed that she
had died OF n broken neck Dntty King,
also known as Mrs, Monroe. testified at
the inquest that she had accompanied
Miss Lehman 10 H0flman'S office In
order that Hoffman might treat MIss
Lehman for a headache she said that
the girl died while Hoffman Was maxi
ing ar adjustment Of her neck. In an
attempt TO relieve the headache
After the inquest Dottle King left
the city and later was brought back by
the authorities from Paterson. NJ j,
She then confessed that Miss Lehman
had gone to Hoffman's Office to have
criminal operation perfori Ned and
had gone into cnnvulsinng while lying
on the operating table She charged
that Hoffman then deliberately broke
The girls neck 10 cover up the attempted
operation,
second Post +Mortem
Az the request Of the United States
Attorney, Justice alddona of the Dis.
tfiet Supreme Court ordered the body
Of the aead glgl eNhnmcd at Mount
ullyet Cemetery about week ago aud
a second paat-morlem examination was
made
Following this examination Miss Me-
Call aud MIR, Collins presented the case
10 the grand jury. with Dottle king
and the physicians who performed the
two post smnrtem examinations as the
principal witnesses,
Fhe investigation into either angles
OF the ease is continuing,