The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-03-02

Business Connections With the
Firm Of Hoffman, Roth
child & Co.
Other Evidence Which Has Been
Given on. Previous Occa-
49,. siOnS.

Juoge Cook, jury and small but in
terested audience listened yesterday to
the testimony of Theodore A. Figel,
who is on trial for the murder of Isaac
Hoffman. He told of his connections
with the firm of Hoffman, Rothehild &
Co, the work he had been accustomed
TO doing while in their employ, and
then went over the ground he had tray
eled after leaving the store. at 6:15
o'clock on the evening of June l on his
way to his -ome in San Rafael. He
told of his family and home prior to
the evening of the arrest caused by the
suspicion that he had murdered his en-
ployer, and then in detail related a
story concerning the ownership of the
revolver which caused the death of
Isaac Hoffman, the sale of the pistol
and the purchase of a new and larger
one on the evening of June l.
J. w. Raphael was the first witness
called during the morning session. He
testified, as he had previously done at
the preliminary examination, that he
had cOnversed with Isaac Hoffman
concerning his family relations, and
that he had been told the family would
be happy one if his mother in-Iaw
were not allowed to live in his home.
He stated that he had been acquainted
with the deceased merchant for some
time and that he had been with Mr..
Hoffman on tie evening of the Bush
street fire. General Barnes asked. the
witness why he was there or if he knew
the amount of insurance on the build
ing. a strenuous objection was inter-
posed by Judge Murphy, which was
sustained by the. court.
= A. B. Paulsen testified that he. had
overheard a conversation of Alexander
of the, firm in which it had been stated
that Mrs. Hoffman was determined to
. obtain her: husbands business inter
eStS. The witness was excused and
=. Chief. Lees was called regarding a con-
Yersation he had with Raphael shortly
after the shooting. but no testimony
= was given by the. Witness.
Then. Figel was called to the stand
by General Barnes for: the defense. In
answer to questions he stated that he
had left: the store. at. 6:l5 o clock. on. the
evening of June. 1. He carried a pack
age of books of the firm and went from
the store on his way to the Safe De-
post. building. Then in detail the de-
PENDANT told of his trip to the Cabin
saloon; E. T.: ALIENS gun store, where
he: purchased the revolver and a box
of cartridges; Charles Bliss, the. tailor
where he went with: the intention Of
trying on a suit which had been pre-
yiously ordered, and his "trip to his
home in. San Rafael. The witness told of
meeting acquaintance: and among
them Mr.. Jacobs, a Waterman, and his
return trip to the store for a bottle of
ink, which he failed to procure, The
testimony was. a repetition of, the state
ID fI,a Il I,,, |, -
the Coroner s.tnquest: and at the pre-
lininary.r examination before Judge
Campbell :. -: !: -
A questions were asked the wit
ness by the defense" at the opening of
the afternoon. session, and the defend
-ant~.waS. then. turned oyer for: a thor
+ough cross examination .by.Judge. Muir
ply. special counsel for the prosecu-
ton. The witness. was gradually led
- up to his meeting with Issac- Hoffman
in the store after his. return. He stated
that he had gone into the store and
turned on an. electric: light in MI. Alex
*ander'S office: and. saw. 1Ssac Hoffman
standing in his own office reading: a
:: letter or newspaper: 1t was then 500
p. M and "a slight conversation was
held regarding the profits. of the New
York and local house, and the: witness
then. stated that Midlothian walked
: with" him to. the front. door and he APP
health as on former occasions. :.
When the witness was excused
Abraham: II of man testified. that he
and Isaac Hoffman had visited a de-
@tective~ agency for the purpose. of: pro-
" curing an officer to assist them in va
e riouS work and: to protect" Isaac. Hoff-
:. man from parties who 1t had been
:: claimed were following him for evil
purposes, although. the. witness again
denied that Isaac Hoffman had told
him that@his :brotherWas- beingwatched
= and followed for evil purposes. -"
The witness" stated that his brother
had told. him that he was afraid he
had been told he would be, assassinated
: Many questions were asked the wit
: ness, but: objections. We're frequent and
the majority of them were sustained
The witness admitted that, he hadtype-
written two copies of the letters from
the East which had been intercepted
+. by the deceased merchant.
-" 1t was elected from the witness that
Mrs. Alexander had vilified Isaac :Hoff-
: man: on at least one occasion. The wit
ness was called for the. purpose of
showing the state of the deceased .mer-
chants mind and to tend to show that
Isaac Hoffman had many bitter enc
. mics. =. -. =.
Mrs. Isaac Hoffman testified in re-
: buttal that she had written the letters
in evidence to her husband, but an OBJ
. lection interposed= by the prosecution
prevented the witness from explaining
various sentences Mrs. Hoffman will
be recalled this morning at 10 o'clock,