The Hartman cases, 1937–1938
These are two separate cases, with different outcomes. The family connections belong on the profiles. Here, the aim is to understand what the contemporary records actually report, without turning a difficult history into a spectacle.
January 1937: a death in Cleveland
The death certificate records a fatal gunshot injury on January 18, 1937 and classifies the death as homicide. It attributes the shooting to the deceased’s estranged wife. That certificate classification is not a criminal conviction.
A contemporary photograph and report in The Syracuse Journal, January 21, 1937, identifies Florence Hartman and describes the fatal shooting of her estranged husband. This is newspaper reporting, not a court finding; the newspaper’s headline and claims should be read in that context.
According to Sandy’s research summary of subsequent contemporary reports, Flossie acknowledged the shooting, argued self-defense, and was acquitted by a jury in March 1937. The trial and verdict clippings still need to be attached and checked. Allegations and testimony are not presented here as established facts. No murder conviction is attributed to this case.
June–September 1938: a different case in Pennsylvania
Sandy’s research summary reports that John Andrenock, a 21-year-old miner, died following a shooting at Flossie’s Pennsylvania home on June 19, 1938. Contemporary reporting is reported to describe a subsequent guilty plea to second-degree murder and a ten-year prison sentence in September 1938.
The supplied source listing identifies Portsmouth Times, September 25, 1938, page 10. Its modern text summary supports locating the article but is not the original newspaper clipping. The original article and court record remain needed for direct verification. No motives or additional circumstances are inferred.
Sources / Research Notes
A name that needs settling
Sandy’s research identifies this son as Joseph Albert Hartman. However, the available Ohio death certificate appears to name him John Riley Hartman. It records January 27, 1905–January 18, 1937, Cleveland, and names parents Joseph Hartman and Etta Chambers, with wife Flossie.
Unresolved identity/name conflict: “Albert” has not been verified in the originals inspected for this update. The certificate name is retained here; Joseph Albert is recorded as a research identification requiring reconciliation, not a confirmed alternate name.
Original certificate · conflicting research identification
Still needed
- Original March 1937 trial and acquittal reporting or court record.
- Original September 25, 1938 Portsmouth Times clipping, page 10, and plea/sentencing record.
- Original evidence reconciling Joseph Albert with the certificate’s apparent John Riley name.