The San Francisco call., 1897-08-19
SOLD HOFF MAN
THE REVOLVER
Figel Told That His En-
ployer Had Purchased
the Pistol.
Detective Seymour Reoounts
His Conversation With
the Defendant.
James Maloney Saw Two Men Argu-
ing at the Store the Night of
June l.

yesterday He testified that he saw Figei
at the Office OF the Chief OF Police on the
morning of June 2. and recounted the
conversation be had with the defendant
at that time.
He said: "Mr. Figel asked me If l had
been at the Coroners inquest and what
my opinion OF the case was. | told him
had not been at the inquest and had
| formed no opinion. / asked him II he
knew who owned the pistol found III
| Hoffman's office He replied that he had
owned it up 10 about week before that
Hoffman had said he wanted to buy a re-
volver, and he took it out of his desk and
sold it to Hoffman for S..
Ach asked: "Did you have the pistol
with you at the timer"
"No, did not"
DO you know how Figel knew what
pistol was found in Hoffman's Officer"
II do not"
The witness further testified that later
he and a mum Der of detectives had stood
in a line with Figel and J. g. Maloney
had pointed out the defendant as the man
he had seen talking with Hoffman the
night OF the shooting.
This testimony was objected to and t he
court said that it was not admissib lie
ton and Judge Campbell said: 81 am
with you so far, General. | see by the
papers you nearly tainted when l ruled
with you yesterday" Barnes replied:
II am willing to faint again for the same
cause. This evidence is outrageous
These detectives were ranged up like
row of burrs on stick A man would be
next door to an idiot who couldn't pick
gentleman out Of a crowd OF detective
officers"
Judge Murphy argued that it was COM
petent to show the conduct and demeanor
of the defendant when under accusation,
and the court overruled the objection.
The witness continued and said that
Maloney had said
THAT looks like the man saw in front
of Hoffman's." Figel had not said any
thing.
On cross-examination he said Figel had
been perfectly open in his statements In
regard to the pistol. and that he had
given as his reason for selling it that 1t
was too small Figel also told him that
he had bought another pistol on the
night Hoffman was shot. He put this in
valise which he left at saloon. lie
then returned to the store ter a bottle OF
ink. He met Hoffman there, spoke with
| him few minutes, then left ana took the
$50 San Rafael boat. Mr.. Seymour fre-
| uuentiy saw FigeI at the office OF the Chief
! vi Police after this.
Frank B. Mcdonald, clerk in the safe
! deposit vault, swore that Flgel unlocked
his vault at AS on the evening OF june L.
| Under cross examination he said he had
! not opened the box with FlgeI put 1t was
| another clerk.
| William J. J. Shaw, the duorkeeper OF
! the City Prison, stated that he had re-
| ceiyed the property taken from Hottman's
body from Officer Bird we'll and had turned
it over to Captain Moran at 8 o'clock the
morning OF June 2
| In examining Officer Shaw Attorney
Ach asked a number of leading questions.
General Barnes objected. Mr.. Ach re-
piled that he had already stated that he
| proposed to ask all the officers of the po-
| lice force leading questions, and that
General Barnes should not object.
Villa m J. Bacon, letter carrier, testi-
fed that he took the letters from the box
! IN front of Hoffman's s store TIT about $3.50
on the night of June /. The store doors
were closed, he thought. he turned in
his letters to the office at 6:45.
Chief of Police Lees was called Mr..
Ach asked him did you see the pistol
at Hoffman's store the night of the shoot
| ing?"
Did you wrap It up that night9"
| ~ did not"
Didn't you testify at the Coroner's in
| quest that you didP'
mo, did not"
| j. G. Maloney testified that he was a
| drayman and teamster. On the evening
| of June / at 6 o'clock he was on kearny
street. He walked down Bush street
! slowly and at the corner of Bush and
| Battery in front of Hoffman's store be
! saw two men arguing. One OF them, who
| had a beard, was standing in the door
facing the witness, and said, "Come on
in here, - - you, and | will settle
| 1, 4
| back toward the witness, replied, ''Y gu
| haven't anything to SETTLE"
| Maloney Iurther stated that later he
| had retraced his movements that night
| in the com pany of Chief Lees, Officer
| Whitaker and Mr.. Ach. He had walked
at that time at about the same gait that
| he had the mig ht of the shooting
On cross-exsmiaation he said the man
| he saw in the door had about three
days' growth of beard. He didn't think
| the quarrel was serious, so didn't pay
much attention to them. After they
m ade the remarks the men went in to the
store and closed the doors.
About week after this occurred the
witness saw an account OF Hoffman's
death in the papers and informed Mrs.
| Hoffman of what he had seen. She di.
rected him to Mr.. Ach and Chief Lees
subpenaed him to testify.
General Barnes asked:
| Have you received any money to tes-
tify in this case?"
mo sir, and furthermore, haven't
seen either of the attorneys since | told
| Mr.. Ach what l knew"
| The witness hen toId OF being taken by
! Officer WHITAKER 10 the detectives room
Al the police station, and how he had
pointed out Figel as a man about the siZ
and shape of the one he had seen in front
| of Hoffman's store.
James Doyle, a special officer of the
| First National Safe Deposit, testified that
he was the one who had opened the box
/, tor Figel at 5:46 the evening Of June L.
i He said Figel only stald a short time and
he did not notice any package in his
| hand.
| William Kelly, hardware merchant
| from San Rafael, said he aid not know
the defendant. On the night OF June a
man came into his store and asked for
bottle of red ink. He referred the man 10
| Mr.. Kellner's. He could give no descrip
| tion of the man.
As the witness left the stand he spoke
| to Judge Louderback. Mr.. Ach recalled
| him to the stand and asked him ii he
hadn't just spoken to Figel- lie replied
that he had spoken to the attorney. who
! had asked him if the defendant was the
m a. M yna to his store.