True crime · 15.01.1904
The murder of Provost Hoffmann at Viru-Jaagupi
Praost Hoffmanni tapmine Viru-Jaagupis
Hugo Hoffmann, born in Väike-Maarja in 1845, had been pastor of Viru-Jaagupi for 33 years and was known as kind but strict. He had rebuked a 27-year-old farmhand for his violent, dissolute life and refused him communion until he mended his ways, and the young man began cursing him in public. In the small hours of 15 January 1904 an armed man broke through a window into the parsonage bedroom and attacked the provost. His wife threw herself between them and was cut; his sick son could not help. The provost died of his wounds, and the farmhand was tried in Tallinn and on appeal in St Petersburg.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Väike-Maarjas 1845. aastal sündinud Hugo Hoffmann oli olnud 33 aastat Viru-Jaagupi õpetaja ning teda tunti heasüdamliku, omakasupüüdmatu ja range mehena. Ta oli noominud 27-aastast talupoissi tema vägivaldse ja liiderliku elu pärast ega lubanud teda armulauale enne, kui too ennast parandab; noormees hakkas teda koguduseliikmete ees sõimama. 15. jaanuari öötundidel 1904 tungis relvastatud mees aknast läbi kirikumõisa magamistuppa ja ründas praosti. Abikaasa heitis end nende vahele ja sai noahaavu, haige poeg ei jõudnud appi. Praost suri haavadesse, kogu maakond oli vapustatud ja talupoissi kohtuti Tallinnas ning edasikaebuse järel Peterburis.
Source: Eesti Postimees, 22 January 1904 (DIGAR); Sakala, 17 February 1905, p. 102 (DIGAR) ↗