The record-union., 1897-12-19
The MURDER OF MRS. CLUTE.
HOFF GIVES A MINUTE AC-
COUNT OF HIMSELF.
Says He Lived in Sacramento-Not
Believed That He Killed Emma
Hawkins at San Jose.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. Is. - AL
though the police authorities have de-
voted three days to investigating all
the circumstances surrounding the
murder of Mrs. Mary A. Clute, there
is a great deal yet to be done. Albert
Hoff, the suspect, proves TO have been
a many-s sided man, both as to occupa-
ton and character. an individual who
has not only followed many callings,
but has appeared to different people in
different lights. His vocation as a per-
ipatetic tinker and mender of furniture
gave him the entire to many houses and
an unusual extended acquaintance.
Consequently the work of gathering all
the details of a life such as he has
led has given the scope for the exer-
tions of the detectives.
He gave the Chief of Police to-day
a more minute account of himself than
he had before announced. He says he
was born in Walsingen, Germany, and
came to this country when 19 years old.
He claims to have lived in Baltimore
Cincinnati. St. Louis, New Orleans,
Houston (Tex.), Denver, Ogden, Sacra-
mento Stockton and Oakland for va
rious periods ranging from one to three
years.
DID NOT KILL EMMA HAWKINS.
SAN JOSE, Dec. 1S.-Local officers
generally scout the idea that Hoff mur-
derei the woman Emma Hawkins here
April % 1896. Many persons, how
ever believe that Josef Blanther killed
the woman. A man giving his name
as Robert C. Figi appeared here with
a woman as his wife. 4 cottage was
furnished handsomely on North Fourth
street, and the couple were apparently
happy. One day after but a few weeks
of married life the woman found she
had been deserted. She said her nus
band had taken her watch, jewelry ard
81 100 in coin, which was her savings.
She also said she had been furnishing
him with his spending money. The
man was never afterward seen, though
the police tried to locate him.
The woman had lived here as a do
mestic, and her name was Lizzie Allis
She was living as a domestic in San
Francisco when she met and married
Figi.
This man was an educated fellow of
military bearing, and spoke several
languages fiuently. 1t is known posi-
lively that he spoke French, German
and English, and he claimed to speak
other tongues. He posed as a man OF
wealth, and proposed buying a saloon
and going into business here. He claim
ed that he was native of Switzerland,
and that he had been engaged there
in the banking business.
The woman was greatly Frustrated by
her desertion. Eventually she recov-
cred, and to some of her intimates told
that the man who had married and
deserted her was Blanther.
Detective Anderson says he has been
informed by one who knows Hoff that
he was here and rooming in the Hens
ley House when the woman was killed.
He has not, however. investigated the
matter, and he says he cannot speak as
to the correctness of this. AS for the
Ffgi and Blanther story, he knows
nothing.
Deputy Sheriff Allen, with whom Mrs.
Fiei served as a domestice prior to her
marriage, says he has heard the story
frequently. but never gave it any Gre
dence, as he did not think Figi filled
the description of Blanther I'm fact"
he said II consider Figi too nice man
to think of him as a murderer"