The record-union., 1897-06-03

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2.-The po-
lice are avowedIy as mystified as ever
regarding the manner in which Isaac
Hoffman, wholesale clothing dealer, met
his death in his Battery-street office
last evening. Chief Of Police Lees is
still inclined to cling to his original the
CRY of suicide, although the autopsy
showed that it was almost physical
impossibility that the wounds could
have been self inflicted.
Acting upon the theory that Hoffman
was murdered, the suspicion of the po-
lice turns most naturally toward The
odore A Figell, who, so far as is
known, last saw the merchant alive.
Figell, who is a book-keeper, cashier
and confidential clerk for the firm Of
Hoffman & Rothschild, says he re-
turned to the office last evening about
6:15 o'clock, remained five minutes and
then proceeded to the Tiburon ferry,
taking the $50 o'clock boat for his
home in San Rafael. Figell asserts
that he left Hoffman in his usual good
spirits, and he diScreditS the idea of
suicide.
The shooting was done with Smith
& Wesson revolver, and Figell admits
that the pistol which apparently caused
the fatal wounds was formerly his, but
he states that he sold the weapon to
Hoffman several months ago.
1t has been reported to the police that
Figell's books were about to be investi-
gated, some gossip regarding the book
keepers free expenditures having come
to the ears Of his employer. Ffgell has
virtually been under surveillance all
day, and instead of going this evening
to his suburban home, he has arranged
to remain in the city over night.
The authorities do not go to the
length of charging Figell with the
murder, and are even 10th to admit
that their suspicious are directed tow
ard him, but SO far no one else has
come within the range of police inves-
tigatiOn in connection with the crime.
The development of the theory i'm
plicating Figell is that some discussion
between him and Hoffman concerning
the book-keeper'S accounts occurred in
the office in the early evening" that a
quarrel ensued, possibly eliminating in
the shooting Of Hoffman. On the 9TH
er hand, it is urged that Figell has vol
UNFAIRLY acknowledged all of the cir
cumstances which have brought him
within the range of inquiry, and has,
from the first refuted the suicide the
DRY, which the police think, would have
supplied a convenient loophole for a
guilty man.
As the investigation proceeds, the
circumstantial evidence against Figell
is apparently becoming stronger Late
this evening he made a statement ac-
counting for his movements after the
close of business yesterday He said
that after leaving his office he went to
an adjacent gun store and purchased a
3S-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver.
the 32-calber pistol which he declares
he sold to Hoffman for s. not long
before being too small He says he
placed the new pistol, unloaded, in his
satchel bag at the gun store, and went
to his safe deposit box to deposit a
paper, which. however, was not in his
pocket. Then he returned to the Of
flee to procure bottle of ink. spoke
few minutes with Hoffman, returned
TO the gun store and then went to the
ferry to catch a boat for his suburban
home.
The police comment on the pistol pur-
chase, his fruitless trip to the safe de-
post box, and subsequently to the Of
flee for he was obliged to buy the bot
tie of ink in San Rafael later in the
evening.
According to FigelPs own statement.
IT he is innocent, Hoffman must have