The record-union., 1897-12-18
MURDER OF MRS. CLUTE.
POLICE CONFIDENT HOFF COM
MITTED THE CRIME.
The Accused Arraigned in Judge
Joachimson's Court and the
Case Set for Hearing.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17.-At mid
night the police had no new discover
les to announce In the circumstantlai
evidence they have been finding against
Albert Hoff, who was to-day arralgneo
for the murder of Mrs. Mary A. Clute.
The authorities are so thoroughly con-
vinced of Hoff's guilt that they are not
looking in any other direction for
possible murderer.
Little attention has been paid to
Hoffs statement that just prior to his
departure from Mrs. Clutes rooms a
stout, well-dressed stranger, who was
apparently on friendly terms with Mrs.
Clute, called upon her, and that TINS
stranger remained after Hoff left. I'm
fortunately for the accused, If there is
any truth in his statement, nothing
has been deduced to give semblance
Of probability to the story.
Hof has undoubtedly prejudiced his
case by talking too much and too Wild
ly, but his attorney has now sealed his
lips, and the accused is not likely to
involve himself in any more damaging
contradictions.
The police claim to have evidence In
their possession that the prisoner has
little regard for womanly honor. They
even promise that they Will produce
witnesses who will state that Hoff had
boasted to them of how he had taken
advantage Of women in whose houses
he had been called to do some work
as an upholsterer, and of how such wo-
men had refrained from causing his
punishment because of the unpleasant
notoriety which it would bring upon
them.
Hoff feels that he is in peril of his
life, and is a. nervous man. His cell
mates in the City Prison say that he
slept little last night. He walked about
the cell most of the night, and when
he lay down he was restless and i'll at
ease. About 2 o'clock in the morning
he fell asleep, but awOke again in an
hour and resumed his pacing to and
fro.
This morning the prisoner was taken
into Judge Joachimson's court for ar
raignment. He was permitted to change
his coat and to put on another pair Of
trousers. His hands shook violently as
he removed and donned his garments,
and there was q furtive scared look
about his eyes. He was escorted to the
courtroom by two officers and placed in
the dock. When his case was calle0
Walter Gallagher appeared as his coun-
sci.
Hoff was taken from the dock to the
desk of the Judge, and when asked
what he had to say to the charge, plead
ed not guilty. The case was then set
for next Wednesday. From the court
room the accused was taken to room
on the first floor of the Larkin-street
entrance of the building, and made to
sit for his photograph in various posi-
tions. A picture of his open left hand
was taken, so as to show the wound
in the palm, supposed to have been
received during the struggle with the
victim Of his passion. He was made
to shoulder the old carpet-sack in which
he carried his tools, just as he had
carried it when c. A. Legg and his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Legg, saw him
leaving the Guerrero-street house about
the time Of the murder. He carried
the sack on his left shoulder, and stood
with his right side towards the cam
era
When the photographer had COM
pleted his work, Hoff was taken back
to prison and locked up. He was meas
ured and found to be just 5 feet 61s
inches high.