The herald., 1897-06-09
But Suspicion Of His Guilt
Grows Stronger
PLAYED THE RACES HEAVILY
AND ADMITS HIS BOOKS ARE
DoCToRED
The Police Fail to Find Evidence
Enough to Warrant Them in
Making an Arrest

Making an Arrest
Associated Press Special Wire.
SAN FRANCISCO, June S.-A sensa-
tional arraignment of Isaac Hoffman's
bookkeeper, Theodore Figel, was made
last night by Attorney Henry Ach,
speaking for the partners of the mer-
chant, who, he declares, was deliber-
ately murdered. This statement was
made in the presence Of Ach's partner.
H. M. Rothschild and Joseph Naphtaly,
counsel for Mrs. Hoffman. 1t reviews
the case and is an argument against the
theory Of suicide. Figers friends find
cause for congratulation in the discov-
cry of a new witness, whose testimony.
they say, tends to prove an alibi for
Figel, and another witness who con-
firms the statement made by Figel to
Chief Lees that he intended to sell his
32-calibre revolver and buy a weapon OF
greater power.
When directly questioned as to
whether his books would come out all
Il6At QA0Sk CARClt CAdAAlAdtiOilp i6Ci
frankly admitted that they would not.
He stated that he had made false en-
tries in the banks account in the firms
ledger on suggestion Of Mr.. Hoffman, as
the latter apparently did not want the
books to show he had been drawing in
excess of his regular allowance.
When asked If the books would foot
up all right in other respects, he said
that no one but himself could make the
books balance. as many entries had to
be made of which he alone knew.
It was the intention of Rothschild and
Ach to compare the firms ledger ac-
count Of the London, Paris and Ameri-
can Bank with the firms bank book of
the same institution, but search for
the latter proved fruitless and tran
script had been asked for.
In all his racing affairs Figel en-
ployed Edgar L. Atkins. Claude Bur-
lingame and Will Taylor as his agents.
They purchased the horses for him, man
aged his stable and bet at his direction.
In all their transactions they were re-
sponsible to Figel.
These men claim that Figel was very
fortunate in his dealings with horse
racing and is very heavily a winner on
the game. 1t Is said that more than
once these agents were commissioned
to wager as much as $1,000 on a single.
race.
Despite the fact that Attorney Ach
has openly stated his conviction that
Isaac Hoffman was murdered, and that
Bookkeeper Theodore FTgel is short in
his accounts with the firm of Hoffman,
Rothschilds & Co., no steps have as yet
been taken to arrest Figel the police in
sisting that there is no proof of the COM
mission of the crime by him, and that in
any event the onus of filing complaint
rests upon those who accuse him. Chief
OF Police Lees fails to see the force of
Ach's objections to the manner in which
the case is being handled by the police,
and asks pertinently why the attorney
does not take the preliminary steps to
secure his arrest If he is so sure of the
responsibility of Figel as he states. Ach,
on the other hand. insists that it is the
duty Of the police to arrest Figel on sus-
picion, claiming that there is sufficient
evidence of embezzlement to warrant
his detention. The arrival of Mr..
Rothchilds of New York tomorrow is
anxiously awaited by all concerned. as
he has promised to furnish a motive for
the murder of his late partner, without.
however, intimating what form it will
take
One of FigePs main supports to the
story he told the police on the night of
the murder has been broken asunder,
and Edward Thomas, the printer who
claimed to have heard the firing of
shot as he was passing the Bush-street
side of the warehouse about :35 on the
evening Of the crime, has been proved to
have very imaginative brain. At 635
this evening Attorneys Ach and Roths-
child made an experiment which proves
conclusively that Thomas was mistaken
At that hour the attorneys, accompanied
by several witnesses and newspaper
men. visited the offices and prepared to
make the experiment. The party was
divided into two squads, one of which
stayed in the offices, and the other, COM
posed of the newspaper men and one or
two others, was stationed at the point
indicated by Thomas. Three shots were
fired from revolver exactly like the
one supposed to have been used in the
murder. and cartridges Of the same make
were also used. Not one of the shots
was heard by the listeners stationed
where Thomas had said he was stand
ing when he heard the shots, and only
one of the shots was heard. by listeners
stationed near the door, and the shot re-
ferred to would not have been heard by
casual passer-by. 1t may be that
Thomas was nearer the sound than he
indicated, and in that case Figels story
will have good support; but in case
Thomas does not alter his statement one
of FigePs strongest supports will have
been shattered.
An Irrigation Suit