The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-31
JOFfE ARSON TRIAL.
Witnesses for the Defendant
Say His Reputation
Is Good.

The trial of Jacob Joffe for arson in
having set fire to his dry goods store on
Avenue D. Bayonne, for the purpose of
defrauding the Hanover Insurance Conn
pany, was resumed in the General Ses-
sions Court this morning. Some surprise
was created when David Sachs, one Of
the principal witnesses for the state, was
brought into court by a Constable and
placed in the prisoners pen. He has
been In the County Jail since Saturday,
having been arrested in a civil suit. His
bondsman, a man named Lazarus, sur
rendered him on Saturday.
Gottfreid Oppenheimer, a salesman for
a New York house, was the first witness
He testified that he had known the de-
PENDANT for a year and a half and had
sold him goods. Witness was at Joffe's
store D. the Thursday before the fire,
which occurred on September 6, and look
ed over the stock. He estimated its value
at 1000. He knew Joffe's reputation for
honesty. and for truth and veracity, and
It was good.
Darius w. Ettinger. a member of the
firm of Ettinger & Co., of Broadway and
Houston street, fire adjusters, testified
tidt II. NiiSDH, dStiIl OIL the G1dllUNtt
Insurance Company, had offered 10 settle
Joffe's loss for 81, 900. Afterward he of
fered s.. 250, but the witness refused to
make a settlement for that sum. He saw
Wilson again. but came to nc agreement.
A week afterward the witness received a
letter from Thomas James, general agent
for the company, asking him to meet VII
son. On the day appointed Wilson did
not appear ind Ettinger called him up on
the telephone. Wilson then said
Everything is off, the man has been in
dicted.' Ettinger said that Joffe's repu-
tation was good.
Bernard Goldstein testified that he had
a conversation with Sachs after the fire.
Sachs said 1t would be better for Joffe to
settle with him because if he SAINT he
would a to go TO State Prison.
Max Bellenko identified IN inventory OF
JoTefs stock which Joffe had made.
Rebecca Denbey, one of the neighbours,
was at the fire shortly after it broke out.
She saw Mrs. Joffe and the children on
the sidewalk, and they were very s~eantily
attired. The children were in their night
clothes and Mrs. Joffe had nothing on but
a skirt and a chemise. The witness pro-
vided them with clothing.
MIS-. JOflG lotd tDOQl uSIIS dWdhCliSd
by a cry of fire. She put the children out
OF the window, and got out herself the
same way. On cross-examinatiOn Mr..
Van Wrinkle asked her if she TAI started
the fire. and she replied that she did not
know what he meant. When the question
was made clear to her she said she did
not.
Jacob Jofre, the defendant. next took
the stand and declared that he did not
set the place on fire. He denied all the
statements made by Sachs about having
offered to make a settlement, and aid
that he had not settled or offered to set
tie with Leviteh or anybody else.
Have you paid or promised to pay
property?'s asked Mr.. Van Wrinkle on
cross-examinatf0n.
mo, sir
rs it not a fact that a note for s10
has been given by you, in Mr.. McCabe's
office, and the note is to mature after
this trial?"
Il never spoke to Mr.. Levitch."
do you deny all knowledge of such
a note?"
at is a lie."
noon.