The San Francisco call., 1898-01-26
MYSTERY OF 4
 MANS DEATH Theodore Figel Placed on Trial Before Judge
 Cook.
It Is Evident It Will Not Be Easy to Secure a Jury
 to Try Him.
None of the Talesrnen Examined Yesterday Were Found to
 Be Available.

It will not be an easy matter to se- cure a jury to try Theodore A. Figel, the young bookkeeper, who Is accused of having murdered Isaac Hoffman, one of his employers. on the evening of June l last. The examination of the talesmen summoned to try Figel for his life was commenced yesterday be- fore Judge Cook, and, when the ad- journment hour arrived not juror had been selected. The talesmen were ex- cused for various reasons; some of them being disqualified, and others who were acceptable to the prosecu- tion were not acceptable to the defense, and vice versa.
 The examination of talesmen is gene rally wearisome process, and owing to the wide latitude taken by counsel in questioning the prospective jurors yesterday the proceedings soon be- came dull dreary and monotonous. The defendant appeared to be the most disinterested person in the courtroom. He leaned back easily in chair by the side of his counsel. w. H. L. Barnes and Davis Louderback, and compla- gently chewed gum. He seldom spoke to the attorneys and seemed to be en- tirely indifferent as to the proceedings that mean so much to him. When the case was called FigePS at- torneys announced that they were ready to proceed to trial. Ex-Judge D. J. Murphy and Henry Ach, who will aid Assistant District Attorney Hosmer in the prosecution, said that they were also ready, and Judge Cook instructed Clerk Tolle to draw twelve names from the jury-box.
 w. H. Wickersham, L. Lassar, J. W. Hinds, F. Soderer, G. O. Jewett, s. Nj.
 Fielding, K. Meussdorffer, A. McLaugh- lin, F. w. Hadley, A. R. Wells, J. R. Drew and F. A. Will were the first twelve called.
 After they were sworn ex-Judge Mur- pffy arose and made the opening state- ment for the prosecution. He reviewed at length the circumstances surround
 i2g the discovery of Hoffman uncon-
 scioUs and dying in the office of | his store at the corner of Bush l and Battery streets He claimed 1 that the wounds could not have
 been self-infiicted and that Hoffman | had been shot dewn by some one who
 was familiar with the premises He
 scoffed at the idea ef suicide and said the prosecution expected to prove by strong chain of circuniStantfal evil dence that the bullet wounds from
 which Hoffman died a few hours after being taken to the Receiving Hospital had been inflicted by Figel Then followed the examination of the i talesmen. They were questioned by ex-Judge Murphy as to whether they were opposed to capital punishment or circumstantial evidence, and then as to their acquaintance with any of the witnesses examined for the defense at the preliminary hearing, or acquaiEt- anceship or friendship with either the defendant, his counsel or any member of his family.
 The examination for the defense was conducted by Attorney Louderback, who wanted to ascertain how far the talesmen had read the newspaper ac- counts of the tragedy; whether they had formed any opinion as to the guilt or innocence of the defendant, and
 whether they had any acquaintance with the officers for the prosecution or the relatives and friends of Hoffman.
 F. Saderer was the first talesman ex- cused. He was not on the assessment roll.
 w. H. wickersham satisfactorily an- swered all questions asked him, but like Soderer. was excused because he was not on the assessment roll.
 l.. Lassar was temporarily passed, and K. MeuSdorffer was excused be- cause he had formed a fixed opinion on the case.
 J. w Hinds and S. M. Fielding were excused because of sickness; G. O. Jew ett because ne was opposed 10 capltal punishment. and F. A. Will because he had formed an opinion and said he
 would not like to be tried by a juror who was in the same frame of mind as he was.
 J. R. Drew, A. R. Wells and A. Me- Laughlin. like Lassar, were temporarily passed. but the four of them were aft erward peremptorily challenged. Las sar and Mclaughlin were excused by the prosecution and Wells and Drew by the defense.
 The jury-boX was then empty and the following twelve talesmen were