HENRY HOFFMAN

Alias: FRANCIS, JAMES, MAY, MEYERS, TANNER

Specialties: GENERAL THIEF, RECEIVER OF STOLEN GOODS

No: 190 Last Displayed: 1/24/2023

Description:

Thirty-two years old in 1886. Jew, born in United States. Married. No trade.Medium build. Height, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches. Weight, 154 pounds. Black hair, dark eyes, dark complexion. Generally wears a black mustache. Big nose. Parts his hair in the middle. Has a Jewish appearance. Has" H. H:" near wrist on right ann. Scar on left cheek.

Record:

HOFFMAN, which is his right name, is a well known New York thief and receiver, and has been arrested from time to time in almost every city in the United States. He has served two terms in State prison for burglary, and is a man well worth knowing. He was arrested in New York City on October 14, 1882, in company of Frank Watson, alias Big Patsey, and Julius Klein (191), and delivered to the police authorities of Boston, Mass. Hoffman, Watson and Klein were arraigned in court in Boston, Mass., on November 24,' 1882, and pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the store of Mr. Thomas, No. 35 Avon Street, that city, and carrying away velvet-and cloth valued at $1,000. Hoffman and Watson were sentenced to three years each in Concord prison.Their sentence expired on July 3, 1885. Klein was sentenced to two years in the House of Correction at South Boston. His sentence expired on October 2, 1884. During the months of October and November, 1885, two express wagons and their contents were stolen in Boston, Mass. The wagons were recovered, but their contents, valued at $4,000, were only partly recovered. Shortly after the robbery two notorious wagon thieves, named Stephen Dowd and William W. Alesbury, were arrested in Boston for the offenses. In Dowd's pocket was found the directions of Hoffman's house in New York City. Hoffman was arrested in New York. and part of the stolen property found in his possession. He was taken to Boston on December IS, 1885, and used as a witness against Dowd and Alesbury, who were convicted and sentenced to four years each in the Charlestown State prison. Alesbury has previously served a three years' sentence in the same prison for a similar offense. Hoffman was arrested again in Baltimore on May 7, 1886, under the name of Henry Stiner, charged with burglary. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 1886, and was sentenced to five years in State prison. His picture is an excellent one, taken in May, 1886.