The San Francisco call., 1898-03-30
HOFF TOLD
 OF HIMSELF
Lengthy Testimony Given III an Endeavor to Prove
 an Alibi.
At So,,o, Points of the Session Drs- rnstic Situations Arose and tho
 Lobby Was Pleased.

Albert Hoff was the attraction in the case against himself yesterday In Judge Carroll Cooks court. For hour after hour he testified as to his whereabouts at the time of and prior to the murder or Mrs. Cute. A rather dramatic scene was pre- sented to the breathless listeners when Attorney Schooler took the stand and asked the defendant to show the court and jury how Detective Seymour had ob- tained certain evidence after his arrest AS the attorney took the stand the ac- cused murderer raised the bloody wea- pon above his counsels head and said, "the officer stated that there were not enough Germans in the country to save me, and I might as well tell the truth, as the rope had already been prepared which would take my life away" The testimony seemed to carry some weight for a mo- ment, but questions soon led the witness into other channels and the incident was forgotten. The witness went over his story, as previously told, of how he had done certain work for Mrs. Cute at her request and that he also assisted the de- ceased in packing her household effects prior to her intended departure. II left by the back way he said. and from his testimony the murdered woman was standing on the front porch at the time of his departure. The witness. while testi- flying in his own behalf also gave testi- mony regarding the explanation he had given to the detectives concerning the cut on his hand. As has been previously tes- tifed to, he repeated that the slight wound was received from a tack while re- moving mating from the floor.
 At the last moment Hoff strenuously denied that he had taken the life of Mrs. Cute and his vehemence was such that the lobby broke out in applause, but their demonstrations were quickly Queled by the court, followed by a threat that any more disturbance would be followed by confinement in the City Prison. The Judge intimated that the case was not a farce, but a murder trial, and consequently or der must be maintained.
 The husband of the murdered woman, E. R. Cute, was first called to testify as to the financial condition of his wife at the time of the murder, but the testimony was shut out by an objection from the prosecution. but the witness testified that the commission of the act for which he was on trial for his life. William .Dierks, Thomas Hannon, William Mohrmann and Mrs. Ida Hollis testified to the excite ment of Hoff when he was notified that the facts of the murder had been pub lished. Charles Brandt stated that Hoff had called at his place of business for a drink on the fatal evening, but that he had been refused, as 1t seemed he was in an intoxicated condition at the time. Lena had seen Hoff between 8 and o'clock on a Valencia street car going south and that he had waved his hand to her. She returned the salutation.
 berg testified that the defendant had worked in the house. but that although they had seen the carpet sack in which he had carried his tools they had not seen the coupling pin, but on cross-examina- tion they stated that they were not posi- tive but that the pin may have been in the tool bag. The case will go on again to-day.