The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-16
STORY OF THE CONFESSION.
Strange Course of Defendants Attor-
neY In Clute Murder Case.


San Francisco Examiner: The trial
of Albert Hoff has already produced its
promised sensation. A scandal has been
brewing for several days in the affairs
of the man who is accused of the
shocking murder of Mrs. Mary CUTE.
During the last few days series OF
incidents as remarkable as any in the
history of q criminal case in California
has engaged the attention and excited
the interest of the local authorities.
While the attorneys for the accused
Russian have been apparently absorbed
in the arduous task of defending their
clients welfare in the selection of q
Jury, one of these very lawyers has
taken part in negotiations to sell what
he insists. and is willing to prove. is
an unqualified, Geographic confession OF
murder by Albert Hoff.
This confession has been hawked for
sale. Notwithstanding the vehement de-
mails of Hoff that he ever wrote it or
that he can tell any story except a
prOtestation of his innocence OF the
crime of which he is accused, and for
which he is now being tried. The at
torney, however, declares that he has
in his possession the written confession
of the accused man. a price has been
placed upon the document by one of
Hoff's attorneys, and every assurance
has been given that HOf will swear TO
the truth of his own confession, or in
any other legal way attest his sincerity
in the remarkable proceeding.
1t is seldom that an attorney has I'M
dertaken such q peculiar mission for
his client, but Benjamin W. Mcintosh
frankly admits that. While he is strfv-
ing to save HOf'S life before court
and jury. he is commissioned by his
own client to sell document that viii
send Hoff to the gallows. \ recital Of
the events that have led Benjamin w.
Mcintosh into this position is of eX-
ceptional interest.
Attorney Mcintosh has not acted
alone in his negotiations. According to
his own admissions, he commissioned
Edgar B. Raymond to undertake the
preliminary negotiations for the sale of
the confession. The price of the dOcu-
ment was fixed at $1,000. Raymond.
according to Mcintosh, was to receive
a fee for his service in the affair. Hay
mond has never seen Hoff, but the
task of selling the confession was ac-
cepted. The conditions under which
Raymond became the agent of Nc
Intosh are best told in Haymond's own
words.
y never spoke to Hoff in my life" said
Raymond yesterday. until this morning
when ! met him with Mr.. Mcintosh at the
county jail. At that very moment i had
in my pocket Hoifs confession that he
had murdered Mrs. Clute. I am not even
SURE that Hoff knew thar / had the docu-
ment which he had written. The confess
sion WIS made several days ago. but
Will not mention the name of the man
to whom il was made. II is written en-
tirely in the handwriting of Albert HOf
who states that he attempted to outrage
Mrs. Clute and then murdered her The
document is brief but it covers in de-
tailed recital the incidents that happened
from the instant the screams oe Mrs
Clute were heard until HOff left the house
and was seen by the elder Legg and his
daughter-in-law. That confession written
and signed by Albert HOff. / now have
IN my possession.
''Hof demands 5000 for his confession
TO say that he will swear TO the confess
sion before a notary or judge and in the
presence of compel ent witnesses Hon is |
taking this stand because he believes that
with S2le9 he can employ another lawyer !
and with a plea of insanity escape the |
ing and under my directions viii answer
every question that may be asked. He is |
perfectly sincere in the matter for he /
needs money for his defense and cannot |
think of any way 10 get il except by ad- !
hitting he is guilty of the murder OF Mrs !
Clute.
Mr. Raymond then admitted that he had /
aever seen the accused Russian. but that /
ne was acting in the matter for Attorney |
enjamin w. Mcintosh The progress of |
he negotiations for the sale Of the confess |
sion was not as satisfactory as Mr.. Hay |
nond could desire He had several con- |
'erences with Mr.. Mcintosh VINO. accord l
ng to the assertions OF Raymond now
occupied another peculiar position. Nc /
ntosh. according 70 these representa- /
ions. not only was defending Hoff in |
,ourt and trying to sell a confession of !