The San Francisco call., 1897-06-23

until you told him yourself?'
II told him l had some private business
matters with Hoffman that didn't tell
the Chief, and that l would tell Mr. Roth
child. Rothchild told me that If he de-
sired the Chief 10 know he would let me
tell him."
Figel went on to say that Hoffman
showed him several letters that Rothchild
wrote, in which he said he desired to re-
turn home; there was one letter in par
ucular about private family matters.
That was few days before his death.
Did YOU make any statement to the
Chief OF Police that Hoffman wanted this
money to give to Abe Hoffman,
II might have surmised that he wanted
to give 1t 10 his brother Abe, who was en-
gagged to be married. He was talking
very confidentially to Abe Hoffman the
last month-more so than he ever did be-
tore. don't remember what he did with
the first check; whether he took il to the
bank or not Some of the checks | cashed
Tor him. L remember one particularly of
$500 at his Office. That was the largest
check he drew. / think the check was
payable to Ike Hoffman-Isaac or L. Hoff-
man-something like that"
"Dd you make any request to be al
lowed TO post up the books since June ?"
Il m ade no request; / was then posting
up the books on the | of June. | might
have said something TO Rothchild at his
Office that was going down to the store
to post them up."
"Did Mr.. Hoffman ever ask you where
you got the money TO cash those checks2"
mo, sir"
Did you tell himP"
mo, sir; but he might have known it.
l was playing the ces-openly, and sup
posed he knew it. People on the streets
knew il, and people in the store knew it,"
Flgel, in reply 10 question regarding
10 a npa n Ir1h casA h..f D.
gam bling on horserace about the 18th of
December, 1896. He had played before
that, but not as a regular thing-about
once in three months OF so. From the
time he started he bet on every race until
the 10th of February, with the exception
OF one time when Atkinson was sick and
then he didn't play it FOR two or three
days. Figel received $3.50 per month sal
ary from the firm oil Hoffman e. Roth
child and 500 per month from hoffman
personally. He had been receiving this
extra $50 for the past three years. He
first bought horses about the latter part
of March. He paid $400 for one from Will
liam NJ. Taylor. A month afterward he
bought two horses for 1920. After that he
paid $500 for another and $500 for another.
After that he bought Two horses and a
half-interest in a third for 5000.
Did you ever lose any money on the
races2"
'Of course"
How much did you lose approximate
lyP"
II don't know. I know won more
than lost2'
"How much did you win netF'
Il suppose my nst winnings would be
10000 since Decem Der, 1896"
Ibid Hoffman know that you were en-
gagged In play ing the racesp'
II don't know, but he could have known
1t. HIS ears were open, l guess. l kept
no secret of anything"
did Hoffman ever go to the racetrack
with your"
mo, sir; not with me-. l had a horse
brought down TO the Bush entrance
one day, but don't know whe ther Hoff
man looked at him or not. l told Gellert
that if ne wanted to see pretty horse to
wait around till IL o'clock and he would
see one. didn't tell him to come quietly.
L ioid Fred Mayerstein one holiday at Ine
raCetrack that had come out to place a
bet for friend"
When Coroner HAWKINS asked who that
friend was the witness replied that he did
not know that the friend of gam bling pro-
cllvlties wanted his game exposed to the
public gaze. The Coroner insisted and
tlgei reluctantly named young Mr.. At
kinson as the capitalist for whom he was
nlaclng bet. tigel denied that +. s..
| Rothchlld of the firm had spoken to him
about his betting on the races. He did
not remember. He said he had told Mr..
Rothehild he was placing a bet for 4
/ friend and was not betting for himself.
F1gel was asked next about the fire
/ which destroyed the store about three
years ago and replied that he did not wish
/ to answer. Hoffman is dead now, and
4 he was friend of mine" he said, but on
being nressed Figei ad mt;ed that one day
4 while Hoffman was looking over the bal
| ance- sheet, a week before the Iire, Hoff-
! man remarked that what he would need
would be a good fire; that il he (Hoff-
mari could get anybody to set the place
the fire Hoffman told FigeI that he (Hoff.
mani had got some one to do it, and that
he didn't want Figel to say anything
! about it.