"Peter J. Hoffman Murdered" 

Peter J. Hoffman was the founder and first generation of Hoffman Construction.  He is Duane's father, and Peter and David's grandfather. This article was published on July 25, 1927 in the Banner Journal of Black River Falls, WI.

Peter J. Hoffman was most cruelly murdered, this forenoon. He was deliberately shot down at the Omaha passenger station by W.C. Rhodes, a stranger to the community, about 8:30 o'clock. He was taken to the office of Drs. Krohn, shot through the head, where he expired about 10:30. His injuries were so great that nothing could be done for him and he never regained consciousness.

Rhodes, the man who did the killing, came from Minneapolis, last night, sent here with a few others by an employment agency to work on the large road job which Mr. Hoffman had under way on Trunk Line 54, between this city and Irving. The man arrived on one of the night trains, and he was on Main street at an early hour, where he inquired for Mr.  Hoffman.

On finding Mr. Hoffman, the latter took him to the depot to get Rhodes' satchel, which had been forwarded to the agent by the employment agency, for delivery to the contractor, as is the custom of the employee agents, the contractor holding the baggage until the employee has performed a certain amount of labor and earned a sum sufficient to pay the railway fare.

When they arrived at the Omaha depot, Mr. Hoffman found that the check for the satchel was not included in those he had. M.J. Harpold, the depot agent, explained that he would have to hold the satchel until the check arrived, as he was responsible for the amount of the man's fare, and that was his security. Mr. Hoffman advised Rhodes to the same effect.

But Rhodes was not satisfied. Grabbing hold of the satchel, he said that he would take it any way. When Mr. Harpold protested, he defied them to take the satchel from him. Mr. Hoffman, finding argument useless, took the satchel from his hand, and put it back on the floor. Rhodes was incensed, and hauled back to strike Mr. Hoffman, when Mr. Harpold grabbed his arm and held him so that he could not deliver the blow.

Mr. Hoffman turned and went out of the west door of the men's waiting room and got into his car, which stood alongside the platform. Rhodes went out after him, and not knowing what Rhodes intentions, Mr. Harpold followed to the door.

Going to the car, Rhodes said that he would get in and go down to the road camp. Mr. Hoffman had no desire to engage a man who made such a display of madness, and he said to Rhodes that he would not take him.

"I don't want anything more to do with you," said Mr. Hoffman. "I will deliver the check for your baggage as soon as it arrives and that's all."

At that, Rhodes went closer to the car, in a threatening matter, pulling a revolver from his hip pocket. Mr. Hoffman saw the movement, and said, "Better put that up; it will not do you any good." He made the remark calmly, and without fear of the man who had the gun pointed at him.

Instantly, Rhodes commenced shooting, firing four shots at his victim. One of the bullets hit Mr. Hoffman on the left side of his head, near his temple, penetrating the brain. He had just entered the car, and had not closed the left door. He tried to get out of the door, but one foot caught in the shaft of the steering wheel, holding him in that position.

It all happened so quickly that Mr. Harpold had no opportunity to do anything to prevent the tragedy, Rhodes commencing to shoot almost as soon as he had the gun from his pocket.

Rhodes rushed around to the left side of the car with his gun still in his hand, pulled Mr. Hoffman from the seat to the running board of the car, glanced a moment at the good man he shot, and then turned in a menacing manner toward Mr. Harpold, still holding the gun in his hand. Mr. Harpold backed away from the door, and rushed to the east door, Rhodes following up. Mr. Harpold ran to the north of the depot, while Rhodes looked for him to the south. As soon as possible Mr. Harpold reached the Waldum house, where he used the telephone to notify the sheriff and call the doctors, hoping that something might yet be done for Mr. Hoffman. He also called W.F. Maddocks, at the freight depot, also warning him that Rhodes was coming in that direction, and La Mont McDonald at the stockyards.

In a few minutes, several men arrived on the scene, and carried Mr. Hoffman into the depot, where he was laid on the floor until the doctors and others could come from the business district. A cot was provided, and he was brought to Krohn's offices. Friends communicated the sad news to Mrs. Hoffman and their son Duane.

When Rhodes found that Harpold had escaped him, he walked around rather aimlessly for a time, his gun in his hand. Those in the neighborhood who knew what had happened, kept watch of him, but were unable to find weapons with which to arm themselves and detain him until the officers could arrive. He went into the freight offices, took a chair near Mr. Maddocks, and calmly asked him to telephone the sheriff to come over. Not knowing what had happened, Mr. Harpold's call not having been received. Mr. Maddocks asked him what he wanted of the sheriff, but Rhodes refused to say. In a few moments, Rhodes got up and went out on the platform.

Sheriff Carlson was not at home when Harpold's call came from the Waldum house, and Mrs. Carlson notified Deputy August Mattson who at once went to the passenger station in his car. He could not locate Rhodes for a few moments, not having a description of him. When he learned that he was at the freight depot, he went there. Rhodes was walking around the north end of the freight station, when Mattson came up to him and covered him with his gun. Rhodes offered no resistance and held up his hands while Mr. Mattson took his gun from him. George Northup came up at the moment, and assisted Mr. Mattson in taking Rhodes to the automobile and bringing him to the county jail. Rhodes had not much to say, further than that he had lost his temper.

Rhodes is a man about 71 years of age, well-built and of larger than average size. He says very little about himself since his arrest, except to deny that he wanted to shoot Mr. Harpold. He says that he has two grown children, a son and a daughter, and that the son is a business man in a Minnesota town.

When interviewed at the county jail, Rhodes broke down, and stated that he did not know why he had committed the crime. He admitted that he had always had an uncontrollable temper.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by Drs. Krohn at the undertaking rooms of F. E. Keefe, to determine the extent of the damage done by the several shots. Three of the four shots fired by Rhodes took effect, two inflicting flesh wounds in the right arm, and the other entering the brain. One bullet went into the cushion of the automobile.

District Attorney D. M. Perry at once proceeded with an official investigation of the matter, and the necessary papers for holding Rhodes were issued by Justice Saron Samdahl.

Mr. Hoffman was a very kindly man, always ready to help anybody who came along. He went to the depot with Rhodes as an act of kindness to a man out of a job and looking for work.

It is unnecessary to state that the community is deeply stirred by the tragedy. Mr. Hoffman was one of our best citizens, a warm-hearted, generous man, one who was always doing the kindly deeds and helping many. He had long been prominent in highway contract work, building many miles of state and county trunk-line highway. That he should be so ruthlessly shot down upon no provocation brings not great sorrow alone, but very deep resentment.

His widow and son and daughter, and his aged mother, who lives at Long Beach, California, have the deepest sympathy of the many who have a share in their sorrow.

Arrangements for the funeral will not be completed so that an announcement of the time can be made in this issue.