The San Francisco call., 1897-08-27
SEEK TO SHOW
FAMILY STRIFE
The Defense Tries to Prove
Hoffman's Domestic
Life Unhappy.
This It Is Claimed Was a Suf-
foient Motive for His
Suicide.
Judge Campbell Rules Some Evidence
Along This Line Not Com
petent.

The cross.eXamination OF D.. George T.
Shiels was continued by Attorney Ach in
the Fige case yesterday morning. The
doctor had made some further expert
ments with q pistol and testified that
there was a flash when the weapon was
discharged at a distance of half inch
from all Object.
In expressing his opinion as TO the
amount OF shock resulting from various
injuries the doctor gave description OF a
knockout blow" and explained how it
produces inconsistencies.
He said the head of the party receiving
the blow is forced around as far as it will
go and then a very slight pressure will
Jar the spinal cord and produce uncon-
seriousness.
Mr.. Ach asked the doctor if an injury to
the sphenoid bone, as in Hoffman's case,
would not necessarily result in an injury
to the medulla oblongata and produce
Inconsistencies. The witness replied
that it would not as an injury TO the me-
dulla would result in death.
Chief of Police Lees was called and pro-
duced two copies of a letter supposed to
have been written by Mrs. Hoffman to
her uncle. One of the copies had been
found in Mr.. Hoffman's desk and the
other on his body. The defense sought to
Introduce these as evidence, but MIR. Ach
objected.
General Barnes argued that he had a
right 10 present the letters as reputtal to
the testimony of Mrs. Hoffman that her
husbands domestic life was happy one.
The general said he proposed to show by
the letter that HCffman's life was full OF
clouds and distre SIS, that he was harassed
and perpleXed by trouble with his family
to such an extent as to drive HIM to sui
eide.
The court held that the only proper way
to get the letters in as evidence would be
by calling Mrs Hoffman to testify in regard
10 Them. General Barnes said he had felt
some delicacy about examining the
widow on that point, but if he could in
troduce the letters in no other manner be
would call her as witness.
Solomon Lewek. hotel.keeper Of
Marvsville, whose wife was a cousin oi
Hoffman, aid he had been shown these
letters by the deceased on April 80 and
had some conversation in regard to them.
He was asked to tell of this conversation.
Mr. Ach objected TO the witness testify
ing as 10 that, and the point was argued
at great length by the attorneys of both
sides.
Judge Campbell said his mind was
rather undecided as to the law, but be
thought the admission of that evidence
would open the door TO the introduction
of testimony in regard TO trouble in the
Hoffman family which had occurred a,
any time. He said that evidence showing
| that there had been any quarrel between
Mr.. and Mrs. Hoffman on or about the
day of Mr.. Hoffman's death would be
competent, but that April 80 was too re.
mote from the time of death, and he there.
fore would sustain the objection.
General Barnes then stated that he de-
sired II 10 appear in the record that he
had proposed to prove by the witness that
on April so Mr.. Lewek had been shown
this letter from Mrs. Hoffman to her
| uncle and one from the uncle to Mrs.
| Hoffman. The witness had been told by
| Mr.. Hoffman that these letters had been
| torn up by his wife, and that he had
| pasted them together and made copies o.
them. That later the witness had told his
vile of Hoffman's family trouble, and tha
! she wrote Mr.. Hoffman Offering to at.
| tempt 10 effect re Cancellation. Hoffman
replied that this would be no use. as his
| wife was set against him. had been drawn
! over 10 her III mother's side, and t. was i'm.
| possible TO change her.
The testimony in regard TO the family
! affairs of hoffman is an i'm portant part o
! the case of the defense, as it Is hoped tC
| show a motive for suicide in the worry
resulting from Hoffman's trouble with hi:
mother-in-law and wife. An attempt viii
| be made to-day to introduce more testi
mony along this line.