The San Francisco call., 1897-06-20
TESTIMONY TO SHOW
AN AL|BI FOR F|GEL
Two Men Saw Hoffman in Front of His Place of
Business at About Half-Past on
June I.

could love his children more fondly than
he did. Why, his whole happiness was
centered in them
And if not suicide ?' ventured the re-
porter.
My poor husband WAS murdered, she
declared, "and by some one who knew OF
the little trouble between my mother and
himself-some one who has made the
most of that trouble to cloud The issue
and place people on the wrong track"
Mrs. Hoffman, did your husband carry
pistol.
He never owned a pistol in his life =;
never thought it necessary. lie thought
man who was given 10 that practice
meant mischief or was a coward. No, L IN
sure be never had a revolver"
You requested me 10 speak plainly,
Mrs. Ii ffman. There was, you think, no
woman in the case ?''
mo, decidedly not. His family and his
business were every hing to him. he
looked forward 20 his coming home with
the same longing that we did. Every
evening we gaiuered at these windows 10
see him get off the car, and how the little
ones ped and screamed with happi-
ness when they saw him.
But one evening he did not come, and
we waited and waited. Ny God he never
came! He was m murdered murde-ed
And IN the very prime of life, Al years
old. just when life looked brightest
and his struggles were over, and
business tangl-s were Strengthened out
He kill himself? Why. he would Just as
soon have thought of cutting the throats
of our four little ones as to dream OF put
ting out his own life.
And thess misunderstanding with
your mother?'
"Oh, the meanness of making so much
Of a little thing like that Think of
family, If you can, that has not had
such things happen in the course OF
eleven or twelve years. When | read
it is cold type it looks so dread
full - so unreal. Those who wish to
serve their own interest at the expense OF
the heart burnIngs of others care nothing
for the constructions they place on trlyial
words and actions. Every human being
knows Chat is, every one who wishes to
be honest) what vast difference there is
between The few angry or quick words that
may occur any day IN a family, and The
bitter, mean and malicious construction
that an enemy can place on hose same
words, especially when II may help to
cover up murder"
DO you think that Mr. Haffman's love
for his children alone would have served
TO restrain nam from any action against
his life p
Certainly l do. Why, Baby Florence
by herself, if he had mad NJ other chiid,
owned him body ana soul; and besides,
NAeFo were his three little boys, whom he
worshlped and was Sc proud of and for
whom he was planning day and night to
make fortune and name in the bust.
ness world.
'Oh, when will this dreadful suspense
De over! This inquest is agOnlzing. Ii
we only had the murderer behind the
bars, where be could not get awayI"
Mrs. Hoffman, have you any idea who
the murderer really 2''
Idea? Yes, but ideas are not proofs
ana this is not the time-not yet-to talk
about that | only crave Justice, and l
feel that shall have it some day"
Can you think of any motive, Mrs.
Hoffman, for his murdt r?"
ut is scarcely fair to give full scope to
what L might consider a motive or mo-
tlves just now. Alter the inquest is over
and everything comes out as / hope it will
III be IN better position TO talk.
The morning afler the murder Mr..
Hoftman's brother called and informed
me that my husband told him the dav be-
fore that he was going 10 have the book.
exported. He never implied that he !niS-
trusted any one-simply that he wanted
TO nave them exported.
81 have no desire whatever to prosecute
any innocent man. Heaven forbid! |
want justice only. And | shall have II
for my httle chlldren's sake. even though
1t takes the balance of my j fe 10 obtain it.
"Suspicions2 Oh, yes l have sus-
picions plenty. but Pll not condemn any