Deputy Sheriff George W. Hoffman

George W. Hoffman

Deputy Sheriff George Hoffman died of a wound he received when he was shot as he attempted to arrest a father and son, ages 53 and 29, who had escaped from the County Jail.

Deputy Hoffman and the Sheriff approached the suspects, who were sitting at a campfire in the woods surrounding the town of Woodstock, around 7 a.m. One of the suspects opened fire, striking Deputy Hoffman. Both officers were able to return fire, but both suspects escaped.

Deputy Hoffman was taken to a local home. He succumbed to his wounds two days later.

The suspects were apprehended two weeks later after a shoot-out with deputies and charged with murder. The 29-year-old shooter was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. Census records show he was released at some point between 1910 and 1920. He died in a Rockingham County, New Hampshire, homeless shelter in 1943. His father received a short sentence.

Deputy Hoffman was a United States Army Calvary veteran. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

He is buried at Lyndon Center Cemetery in Lyndon, Caledonia County, Vermont.