Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1897 — STRANGLED BY BURGLARS. [ARTICLE]

STRANGLED BY BURGLARS.

Farmer Adam Hoffman Is Murdered Near Brimfield, Ind. Adam Hoffman, a wealthy bachelor farmer, living near Brimfield, Ind., wa» murdered by two men, whose intention it was to rob him. Hoffman sold a large amount of wheat and stock the past week and it is asserted that the men, thinking he had the money at has home, committed the crime while seeking the money. At midnight a farm hand living with Hoffman was awakened by a noise in an adjoining room, which sounded like the tramping of men. The boy quickly crawled under the bed and shortly after the men entered, a lighted match was thrust under the bed and the boy was ered,. He was ordered from his hiding place nt the point of a revolver and placed on the bed, bound hand and foot and securely gagged. He was warned that If he attempted to give an alarm he would be killed. The men’ next went to the old man’s room. Hoffman was ordered to pass over his money. He denied that he had any money in the house, saying that he never kept money there. The men began to threaten and choke him to force him to disclose to them his hiding place. His aapds were firmly bound together and tied to his legs; his feet were likewise bound and then fastened to the bed. It is thought the men continued the choking until life was extinct. The men then searched the house from cellar to roof, but failed to find any money.