The San Francisco call., 1897-06-20

4
Did he ever have any conversation
with you REGARDING his mother-in-law,
Mrs Alex4nder?p
He did. No, he did not mention that
he ever had any trouble with her. faii
to repeat just what was said at this tune.
did he say she had ever threatened 10
sue him2"
He said in a joking way that she had
threatened 70 sue him for $l3O:
Witness had no knowledge of his brother
ever carrying a weapon OF any KIND. ne
was at the store on the nj ht OF the muir
der or su eide, but had made no state
ment.
do you know" suddenly interiected
Juror Geimann at :his poiut, 'if your
brother was right or left handed p
Witness replied that he was right
handed.
Attorney Naphtaly was the next wit
ness. He stated that he had been Mrs.
Alexander's attorney Tor about year and
half. he knew all about the business
affairs of ,he firm, but no hing that would
! throw any light on che recent trage y.
he denied that TO his knowledge MIS-.
Alexander ha ever made any threat 10
sue deceased, although he was aware that
they had not been on good terms lor
many months. He said that Mrs. Alex
ander wa disappointed because whe the
hnal clearing up of the hrms business
was made al he time she drew out she re-
ceived only $47 600. when she believed she
was entitled 10 $4,000 There was noth-
ing in Naphta Us testimony that would
apparently affect the status OF the case.
Harry n. Hoffman of Oakland, cousin
of Isaac Hoffman, followed. He said that
his cousin was so afraid of a revolver,
gun or any kind of firearm at all that he
once remarked to witness that II he ever
had occasion even to shoot al BIRD he De-
itevVd the report OI the gun would frighten
/ Ia fol q
| about the camping expedition on winch
he had intended gong with deceased he
was asked if Figel had the Keys OF the
store.
well. know he used 10 have them,"
he answered. He did not have the Keys
oil the Bush-strt ct entrance to my knowl-
edge. Those doors were seldom opened
anyway. There was no occasion 10 use
them"
do you know of his taking the cash
away from Theodore FIgel?'
He told me he did. He said Figel had
been careless in his work, was restless and
loose, used 10 stay from The store and then
again come down late. Once he said he
did not see why it was Figel sent his
1ather down 10 say he was sick when he
! himself knew he was out at the race
| track"
This statement by witness was entirely
unexpected and created n Id sensation,
showing as it did rom source not looked
for that hoffman was entirely acquainted
with the interest Figel took in horse
racing.
did he ever say anything to you, con-
tinued the Coroner, "about having the
books experted?"
He did men ton something about it.
II was along toward the end of the year."
did he say it was whether Figel was
honest or dishonest"
- ii q did N tn me- y
The witness vas then led off on an
other tack about the condition of the
room on the night of the tragedy and the
finding of the bullet. He sald he found
piece OF one himse + and surrendered it up
to police officer on request. There were
bloodstalns IN pTofuslon on the floor.
John b. Harris, salesman for Hoffman
& ROthchild was next called to the Wit
ness-chair He said be was not The con-
ndential clerk, but, nevertheless, he un-
derstood from Ihe assistant bookkeeper
that Figel was deprived of his position as
cashier because he was short IN his ac-
I counts and his books were not posted up
TO the time they should have been. He
had never known Hoffman TO have n re-
VoIYer, and be lett the store on the even
ing OF The tragic event at occurred
there about five minutes 10 6 o'clock. He
was in q position TO know, he said, be-
cause on Decoration day he had assisted
AOACaGGA ~ AtGOIdic Tile 5tOISs anu DOku
had worried in their shirt sleeves, where
he had good opportunity TO see if his
employer carried a weapon OF any kind.
One of The strongest points in Harris
testimony was as regards the antipathy of
Hoffman toward the act of suicide. He
said tnat at the time Norihaussen COM
mitted suicide in the Baldwin Hotel Hoff-
man SAID 10 him: Any man must be a
fool TO commit suicide"
Witness further stated that on the day
of Aoffman's death ne was in the best of
spirits, and once humorously remarked to
him that be wanted him (Hoffmanl to get
wealthy too fast because witness thought
Hoffman had pu: the price OF some sa M
piles rather low. He and tue clerk (Mr
Schudds) had departed on the evening in
question leav .ng Hoffman writing letter.
Then came one OF the witnesses of the
day from one standpoint though Their
was apparently nothing in her statements
that would lead TO any startling develop
ments. Her testimony was manly on
the business OF the firm and the relations
existing between her and Hoffman.
The last time l saw Mr.. Hoffman
alive" said Mrs. Alexander. was tiftee n
months ago. At that time l withdrew
from the firm, and Mr.. Hoffman and [
never spoke q word TO each other after
that.
sit is absolutely untrue that I ever
threatened to have Mr.. Hoffman placed
under arrest. l have frequently spoken
TO my daughter about her relations viii n
her husband
There is no truth in the statement that
had ever given expression to the opinion
that Mr.. Naphtaly and other attorney s
had conspired to rob me. honestly be-
lieved that l did not get the sum of
money ont of the firm to which 1 was
justly entitled, but I made no complain /
10 anybody.
Mrs. Hoffman never made the state
ment to me that she would come out on
my side If she dared. We never CORE
sponded about that matter at all"
7. j. Weniger of the Cabin saloon at
4O6 Market street testified that on the
evening of the death Of Hoffman he had
seen Figel twic'. He said Figel came in
first bout Ten minutes after6 and left a
grip. On the occasion of the second visit,
which was between 6:20 and 6:25. lie had
a package in his hand. He was able TO
fix the time accurately because Figel
had appeared in a hurry when he camo
in the second time and had glanced at The
clock.
E. F. Schudde, entry clerk for Hoffman
q Rothchild, next testified. He said he
ieit the store about 5: :55. and before he
$50. Schudde SAID he did not have that
whereupon Hoffman told HIM not to
mind, lie would get the sum him self. He
was asked if F.gel owed b m any money
and replied:
HE owed me $3.50 but il was paid June
8, with $5 accrued interest. Tne money
was brought to ME by Billy Taylor with
The assertion thar he wanted IN take II N