The San Francisco call., 1897-06-11
HOFFMAN'S CHARACTER.
Portrayed by His Partner as That
of a Good. Hard Working
Man.

Through Mr.. Henry Ach of Rothchild
& Ach, attorneys for the firm OF Hoffman,
Rothchild & Co., E. S. Rothchild made
the following statement last night:
al have been associated with Mr.. Hoff-
man in business since about May 10, 1885,
In that time l have known Mr.. hoffman
and knew that he WAS a man of cheerful
disposition, and a man who had so far as
l know no extravagaut habits of any
kind or character, man who left his
home in the morning and came directly
TO the store remaining there all day long,
and in busy occupation. He would leave
at the lunch hour and would return i'm
mediately after his lunch and remain at
his place of business at work until the
close OF business hours and then inmedi-
ateiy 90 to his family.
$50 far as Pam aware he engaged in no
outside speculations or enterprises of any
character. l knew OF no quarrels or dis
sensions between Hoffman's wife and
himself Personally, he spent very little
money, as little as any man know in his
position. HIS entire am bition see med to
me to be in his business and for his family.
Il expected to leave New York on June
10, to arrive home on the 10Th, and ca
pected Hoffman to leave a day or two
after that. There was nothing in any let
ter which was written by Hoffman 10 me
which indicated that he expected any
trouble OF any kind or character, but on
the contrary his letters indicated that he
was very busy and was paying the strict
est attention 20 that portion OF the busi-
ness to which he was devoted, namely, d.:
recting The manufacturing portion thereof
and the sale OF merch andise.
Holman, during my association with
him in san Francisco, paid very little at
tention to the office or the books, and
whenever he desired to know anything
would 60 to Mr.. FlGel and maze in
quiries, and so would l very frequently.
AS to Mr.. FgeI owning horses l never
knew II in my life. | never knew that he
played the races but once in my life, and
l took him TO task tor 1t, and be then said
that ne made wager for some one else.
~ pom learning OF Mr.. Hoffman's ter
rible death 1 was terri bly, shocked, for I
regarded him, as he was, q man in good
Circums tances, full OF vignT, life and am
bition.
"Messrs. c. and I. Hoffman had surplus
in the business, and SO far as any drafts
by Hoffman were concerned, if he desired
to make any and were IN San Francisco,
could not and would not have made the
slightest objection, but 1 cannot IN any
way conceive any use that Hoffman would
have had for any money outside of his
own living expenses, and as to those l
knew him 10 be extremely economical" 3"
Mr.. Rothchild brought back a statement
showing the condition of the account with
the bank in the hand writing OF Mr.. Figel,
In which he states payments to the bank
as follows. and as 10 which comparison
with the books of the bank was not
made: March l. $500; March g. Sl00:
March 4, $1,000; March 8, $500: March 10,
$500; April %, $4,000; April Z, $500.
This Is in the handwriting OF Mr.. FiCel.
In letter written 10 Mr. Rothchild by
F1gel he expressly and directly states that
Hoffman does not tell him what he writes
10 RothChlld, and also advises Mr. Roth
child that Hoffman has told him right
along that Mr.. Rothchild desired balance.
sheets
So far as the statements are concerned
for the end OF the year about May Is or 19,
Mr.. Roth child had never received any up
10 the time Of bis departure from New
York, and the only thing he received was
a telegram from Mr.. Hoffman advising
him OF the net profits of the firm for the
year.
Il never knew Figel 10 hava pistol, or
that be was afraid of anything or any
body. 1 never heard of any threats hav-
ing been made against Hoffman, as stated
in some of the newspaper reports. and 1
never knew of either Figel or Hoffman
carrying pistol.
81 never had reason to suspect FigeI of
any Irregularities in connection with his
books, but was dissatisfied when | was
Figel conducted his business.
$50 far as 1 know Isaac Hoffman did
not know OF FigelS betting operations"
At this point Mr.. Meverstein inter-
Jupted to say that Mr.. H Hoffm man did know
OF them, as he had told Hoffman of tn en-
Mr.. Ro.hchiId then continued:
Il never saw any small bottles Oh ink in
or about the store or offices since we oc-
cupied our present quarters, into which
we moved on or about the 4ih of June,
1896.
L never knew Hoffman to remain IN
the store after closing hours, which were
usually about five or ten minutes before 6.
He would sometimes have the N en- come
back in the evening, and would some
times also return after his supper, but he
never remained after the others Left.
Hoffman never to my knowledge had
any individual bank account"
Has anything definite been decided
upon to the arrest of FIgelP' asked
The CALL reporter.
That is matter that is entirely in the
HANDS OF the attorneys of the firm" inter
rupled Mr.. Ach. $50 far as that is con-
cerned," he continued, nothing has at
tn time been determined upon, or will
be until full opportunity has been given
10 the police to take action in the matter.
We shall wait at least until we see what
develops at the Coroner s inquest.
Addressing his question TO +. S. Roth.
child, the reporter asked: is there any
thing in The partnership agreement that
would permit Mr.. Hoffman to draw a
large sum OF money-say $4,000 or SIC, ,O00-
without the consent of his partners?'
f en- came the astonishing statement
which places Mr.. Figel in an awkward po-
sition, o put it mildly.
1.-The two Holman brothers" said Mr..
Rothchild, '.have large surplus invested
in the business, on which they are not
even drawing interest, SO far as know,
and they have perfect right to draw this
for their own private use whenever they
please and without asking me or any oae
else about it"
Would you have any objection to stat
ing that this amount is in excess OF. say
$95002"
Not at all. The amount that they have
il the business over and a bove the amount
that he partnership agreement required
is $i7. 000"
Then there would have been no neces-
sity for Mr.. Hoffman seeking TO conceal
the fact from you that he had drawn
$9500 out of the business2"
None at all. l notice that a statement
has been published that al the partners