The San Francisco call., 1897-06-04

NOuuuS, II Is true, out tneY were not
caused by the flash of the powder. The
discoloTation is due to the grease always
found on cartridge bullets. This grease
will travel a great distance with the bullet
and always leaves dark trail behind.
Il examined those spots carefully AMI
know the discoloratIon is not due TO
powder. The other physicians agree with
me in this, and all state that it seems i'm
probable that the deceased could have
held the weapon far enough away TO have
prevented powder discoloration.
Another very significant point dispels
the suicide theory in my opinion. The
bullet that entered the left cheek shat
tered the base of the BRAIN The autopsy
proved this fact, and Hoffman must have
been immediatly rendered unconscious
the instant that shot took effect The
shock would have certainly produced un-
consciousness for a long period, and it is
very probable that he never would have
rallied. The same is true of the bullet
which entered the top of the head; in
fact, it was instantaneous in its effect and
certainly mortal"
Ali last evening Morses detectives
worked on the case. From q statement
made by Captain Calundan it is believed
that he inclines 10 the murder theory and
will work to prove that such IS the case.
The agency detectives will thoroughly
investigate two points that have 50 far
defed explanation. Mr.. Hoffman had
been in the store where he met his death
many times since the firm was established
and on the evening OF his death he noticed
what he thought was smoke or a heavy
dust coming up an elevator-shatt in the
building. He called attention to the un-
usual haze around the shaft, but the mat
ter was finally dropped. II is posi- Dle
that some person was secreted around
that shaft and in his movements raised
sufficient dust to attract the merchants
attention.
The other strange point is the absence
of the $50 which the drayman, Lauer
loaned Hoffman shortly before he was
found mortaliy wounded in his office. No
one can be found who saw Hoffman dis
pose OF any portion of this money or saw
him leave the store after he borrowed it,
but nevertheless only few dollars were
found on the bodv when IL was searched
at the hospital These are two of the
prin cipal points to be cleared up, and a
third at first pc ssed over lightly is the con-
d ,ioa in which The front door lock was
found by Ferrenbach. l. was improperly
adjusted and many OF Hoffman's en-
ploYes who have locked themselves in the
building say that the mistake would GER
tainly have been noticed had any person
on the in side barred the door.
Strong efforts have been made to con-
meet Figel. the bookkeeDer, with the mer-
tive in his conviction that the young man
is in no way responsible for the tragedy
Flgel does not deny that he has been play
ing the races lately, but saws not only is
he winner but ali the money he ever
ventured on the blooded steeds he bor-
rowed from his father.
"All ask, said Figel yesterday, sis that
the people give me an even chance and [
will cast off any cloud of suspicion that
may rest over me. ! am not in the least
worried, but thoroughly dislike to be per-
secuted"
Chief Lees continued his investigation
yesterday in the Hoffman case.
Ii had been remarked that Eigel. the
cashier, had been under restraint by the
police, but the Chief emphaticaIy denied
it and said that Figel was not even under
surveillance. Figel had told him that he
had cleared $4,000 out of his racing trans
actions, and he had invested nearly all of
it in racehorses. The Chief has in his
possession the signed bill of sale for the
i'm mported horse Sain and two other horses
to Figel.
The Chief has modified his positive
statement of Wednesday that hoffman
took his own lie. Last evening he de-
clined TO say whether it was a case of sui.
eide or murder bs sing his Teticence ON
the comments in the Durrant case, but
he does not hesitate 10 say that the
wounds could easily have been self
Inflicted. He believes that the first
shot is the one that went through
The hrim Of the bat on the right side. lust
above the temple, went over the desk.
striking the wall, ricochetting on to the
moding and lodging on the chair. From
the position of the bullet hole on the brim
of the hat it is claimed that no one but
Hoffman could have fired the shot
This is the theory of the police and Can
tain Bohen, who Is not SO reticentas his
Chief. has no hesitation in saying that il
is case of suicide pure and simple
The police are gathering the evidence
together TO be ready for the Coroner's in
quest. which will probably be held next
Monday.
The man whose death at present an
pears to be surrounded by an unfathom-
able mystery will be buried to-day.
Funeral services will be held at o Id Eel
lows Hall at 10 A. NJ. under the auspices
of Bay City Iso ge. The interment will be
in Hills OF Eternity Cemetery the funeral
train leaving Third and Townsend streets
a IL 80 o'clock.
The date of the inquest has not as vet
been determined, but the following iurv 10
sit on the Coroner's inve stigation has been
selected: B. Fross, 1886 Bush street: %,
Erb, 33S Bush street; F. Schneider 334
Bush street; II. L. B. Smith, 800 Bush
street; J. Glasor, 3i5 Bush street; William
Geimann, 335 Bush street; C. Hoffman
All Bush street; +. Braun, 440 Bush
Heller, 327 Grant avenue; J. Culligan, 3I7
Suffer street.