The San Francisco call., 1898-03-29
Will Attempt to Prove an Aibi to Establish His
 Innocence.
The Testimony Thus Far Given in His Behalf Is Far From
 Strong.
He Will To-Day Tell the Jury of His Movements on the Day Of the
 Murder.

The trial of Albert Hoff, accused of the murder of Mrs. Mary Cute in her home at sos Guerrero street, will be concluded this week, as the defense has but few witnesses to call. Hoff took the witness stand late yesterday afternoon, but had not concluded his direct examination when the hour of adjournment arrived. He proved very garrulous witness ana the instructions and in- functions of his counsel insisted on going into the minutest details concerning mat ters that have no direct bearing on the case.
 When the trial was resumed yesterday morning Attorney W. H. Schooler made the opening statement for the defense He said that he expected to prove that Hoff had led an ordinary life during his residence here and had never given any evidence of being possessed of brutal instinct such as must have governed the acts of the murderer of Mrs. Cute He said that he also expected to show that Hon left the house about 4:3O o'clock on the afternoon of the murder and that Foley and Jackson were laying carpets in front room at the time. Hof was to return the following day to assist Mrs. Cute In hanging the pictures and tapes wound on Hoff's hand, which the police claim was caused by a Jagged end or the coupling pin used by the murderer. he said was caused by a tack in a piece Of carpet Hoff had unrolled for Mrs: Cute to ascertain if it would fit the hallway.
 The first two witnesses called were Mrs. Masterson and Mrs. Wagner, who had at times employed Hoff. The testimony given by them was of negative charac- ter They simply testified that they had never seen a coupling pin in the posses sion of Hoff. Mrs. Wagner testified that once to get some screws and another time to get some tacks. Had there been a coupling pin in 1t she would have seen
 The next two witnesses were very ma terial in support of the alibi Attorney Schooler expects to prove.
 Robert ~Goepel, a shoemaker living in the Western Addition, testified that Hoff was in his store at .5:15 o'clock on the evening of the murder. just about the time Mrs. Clute met her death.
 Goepel on croSs-eXamination admitted that he had been questioned by the po- lice just after the murder.
 Did you tell the police about that meeting?" asked Assistant District At
 T did not" replied Goepel This is the first time I ever told it," he added.
 Goepel had no explanation for so long remaining silent on that vital point in Hoff's defense.
 The next material witness was Henry Neimeyer, a clerk in theALindell House. He testified to having seen Hoff about 6 o'clock on the evening of the murder and giving him some mail.
 Hoff took the stand and told of his &C., quaintance with Mrs. Cute. He said that he had worked for her on several occa- sions and that she had sent for him to as- sist her in moving from 320 Page street to S03 Guerrero. where she was murdered. He detailed at length how he had taken down pictures and draperies for her and had been engaged by her to assist in put ting them up in her new home. He had just reached the point in his narrative of getting to the Guerrero street house at about 1 o'clock on the afternoon of the murder when Judge Cook declared a re- cess until this morning.