The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 23, 1897, Page 14

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1897. FIGEL ON THE STAND UNDER OATH Charges the Crime of Ar- son Against His Dead Employer. ACH INDIGNANT AT THE BOOKEKEEPER. He and Others Rise in Stroag D:fense of the Honesty of Hoffman. EXPERT AMES GIVES A SWORN OPINION. The Receipt for $9500 Declared in Unequivocal Language to Ba a Forgery. Theodore A. Figel told his story under oath yesterday beiore the Coroner’s jury. Much to the surprise of many he answered every question that was put to him. In only two instances did he show any hesi 1ation or reluctance, and in these cases it was concern for others, he explained, that induceda him to attempt to withhold what information be possessed. His first declination to answer a ques- tion had considerable of the melodiamatic abont it, ana his uitimate reply to the ob- jectionable interrogzatory produced the tirst real sensation of the investigation. *Did you ever have any conversaion with Mr. Hoffman regarding the firm of Hoffman, Alexander & Co?”’ asked Coro- ner Hawkins. “Thet is a question that I don’t care to answer. Mr. Hoffman was a friend of mine. He is dead, and I don’t care to throw any mud on a dead man,” Before Figel's examination began he was informed by the Coroner that as he stood somewhat in the position of an ac- cused man, he would not need to answer questions that ke thought might have a tendency to criminate him. Do you refuse to answer this question on the ground that you would criminate | Yyourseli?"’ remarked the Coroner. “‘Then I must insist on an answer.” After becoming absorbed in deep thought fora moment or two the witness answered: *About a week or ten days be- fore the fire he was looking over the bal- ence theet and sald what he needed was a good fire, and that if he could get any- body to do it he could make a few thou- sand dollars. After tne fire he said he had got some one to do it, and said that be did not want me to mention anything about it.” Inreply 1o further questions he said that he did not know the man who set fire to the piace, and that he had never had any other conversations with Mr. Hoffman on the subject. He addea tbat he had told a chum of his, Edgar L. Aikinson, about the matter. The only othertime that he did not re- spond promptly was when he was asked the name of the friend for whom he said he had made a bet on the races. He ex- plained that he did not know whether his iriend would like to have his name men- tioned in this connection. On the Coro- nerinsisting on an answer, he said that he bad made the bet for E. L. Atkinson. He gave little external evidence of be- ing under any great mental strain, and throughout the examination gave appar- ently iree and full replies to every ques- tion asked. Many of these weie prompted by Attorney Ach. Lloyd suggested only & few toward the cloae of the witness’ ex- amnation. When Figel took his seat in the witness-chair, he smiled and nodded pleasantly to Joseph M. Rothchild, who sat facing him. The cramped quarters of the Coroner’s office held the largest andience of any day since the invesiigation began, and every word that Figel utt red was listened 1o with the deepest attention. The full array of legal talent was again present, and only once was there a clash petween them. When the expverton handwriting was stating to the jury his conciusion that the signature on the $9500 receipt was not genuine Lloyd protested against this conclusion being given 1o the jury, and asked that the jury be allowed 0 form 1ts own opinion by ‘making a com- parison of the disputed signature with proved genuine signatures of the de- cea:ed. Ach angrily objected to the attorney for Figel “‘making speeches to the jury.”’ Lloyd denied that he was making a speech, and then tue Coroner interposed and put an end to further disturbance. In the course of his testimony Figel fixed the time positively as being 6:20 p. M. when he left the saloon to take the car 10 go to the ferry. While he was testify- ing the Coroner toyed with the pistol with which Hoffman nad been killed in full view of the bookkeeper, but the latter tailed to displv any emotion at the sight, and he preserved ite same calm demeanor when he examined the weapon to identify it as the one he had sold to his employer, In explaining the false entries in the books he stated, as he nad previously done | toa reporter of THE CALL, that they had been made under the iustruction of Hoff. man, as the latter wanted to conceal the fact that he was drawing large sums out of the business. He had no idea, he said, what Hoffman did with the money. After the receipt had been under ex- amination and while Ach was in_the act of replacing it_in his pocket, Figel re. marked to the Coroner: “Don’t you think that receipt ought to be kept her an exhibit?” He was admonished to simply answer questions and informed that the Coroner would take care of the rest of the case. Referring to his transactions in playing the races, he stated that his net winnings since the 15th of 1ast December were about $10,000, and that he bad invested most of tbat amount in racehorses and mining stocke. A new and significant point in his tes- timony was the siatement thata month or two before the tragedy Hoffman had given him strict orders not to pay any more bills that had been incurred by Mrs. Hoffman. He made the remark to his fellow-employes at the time that he thought his was a mean uction on the part of Hoffman. Bills to which the “0. K.” of Mrs. Hoffman was atiached came to him subsequently and he had re. fused to pay them. Ticket Agent Johnson of San Rafael broad-gauge line was the first witness ex- amined. He testified that on the night of June 1 he nad not sold any commutation tickets after 6:30 ». M. He was followed by an employe of E. T. Allen & Co., who wished to correct h Yevious testimony. Hi« revisea state- at Allen’s. When this witness testified | Bliss, to try on a suit of clothes. I left |after Rothchiid went East. It might m\-: | I made out a statement. the first (ime his testimony was of a char- acter to positively show that Figel had not bought the weapon- there. Figel yester- bought at Allen’s some vears azo. Figel was under fire for something over two hours, and was followed by Daniel T. Ames, who declared in unequivocal lan- guage that he believed the $9500 receipt to be a torgery. Ach occupied the stand for about half an hour and bad only begun to zet well into the case when an adjournment was taken for the day. THE INQUEST. Some of the Most Sensatlenal Tes- timony That Has Yet Been Developed. C. Johnson, assistant agent of the N. F R. R. Co. at the ferry, was the first w ness at the inquest yesterday. He 1old about Figel buying a commutation ticket on June 1, between 6:15 . M. and 6:30 p. . He was certain as to the time, because he opened the office at 6:15 and closed it at 6:30, and it must have been within that period that Figel bougnt the ticket. At the request of the Coroner the wit- ness went through the motions of making out the commutation ticket. According o the siopwatch of Lawyer Lloyd the (ccupied was 29 seconds. The wit- ness was positive that the gates ieading to the boat were closed at 6:3L my books and satchel in the saloon, and when I looked at my waich it was | ten minutes past 6 and I concluded tnat day stated that the weapon had been | | time to | for his ke | thing inside. as it was a very nice suit 1 wanted lots of y it on. “Then I went down Sutter fo Sansome and down Sansome to Busk, and met Mr. Jacobs again and told him I bad missed the 6 o’clock boat, and that 1 would try to make the 6:30. He told me that if I missed the 6:30 to come to his house and sleep there. Then I think I met Ferren- back, the watchman, and ne asked me if I was going to work, and I told him I had forgotten something. “Then 1 met Mr. Hoffman talkine to Frie¢man. As I had no key to the Bat- tery-stree! entrance, I asked Mr. Hoffman that I wantsd to get some- He loaned me his keys, and I opened the dvor and handed him his K back. I walked in nrst—Idon’t re- w 1 wanted to get some ink—the same kind of black ink we nsed in the store. I looked around and could not find any small bot- tles. Agents often leave sample bottles of ink there. Then Istood taiking to Mr. Hoffman for a minute or so, and I told | him that I had to caich the boat. After | body - Figel had obtained his ticket two other | tified it us one which he had bought of E. | “He walked out of the front of the store with me and I bade him good-night and left him. The store was entirely up cxcept the Battery-street door. The usual ime for closing the store for the last few montns or weeks I believe was6 | o'clock.” | The witness was shown the revolver | which had been found lying beside the | the murdered merchant and iden- nber whether he walked in first or not. | | been in January or February. bad memorandum ; He drew $1500 at that time. He said b would put it back but he didn’t when.” “Did you make any statement to th | Chief of Police that Hoffman said b would pay it before the first of th. | month?” | ““He may have said that he would | before the first of the month. : {10 put it ona tagand he said he didn’ | want anybody to see it and ne asked m how I could charge it up, and I told him Icould charge it to the bank again, and he instructed me to do so. “Which bank?"” account, | man, Rothchild & Co. I don’t remembe: the amounts of each but th | $9500. There was one for $159 *Did you make an entry in the cash | book ?"" | -“Yes, air.” | “Which cashbook?” | “The first entry I would make would b in the petty cashbook.” “You wrote the total at the time— $95007 “I wrote that in the petty cashbook.” “Do you remember asking Gellert to locked | make thatentry in the petty cashbook?” | “Idon’t remember the occurrence, bu I remember asking him.” “What was your purpose Joserh Rotnchild not to about this tra tion 2" “I didn't ask Mr. Rothchild not to say anvthing aboutir.’’ ! “Did you ask him not to tell the Chiel 7) ,‘/ ” /g i i) 222 EOOK KEEPER FIGEL ON THE STAND. | | | ! { | person<, one of them named Farnsworth, procured tickets. The witne:s coula not remember the names of any others to whom he had sold tickets on that day, but he remembered Fizel, because, when the man gave his name, Mr. Johnson won- dered whether he was ason of Figel the tailor. The boat left the wharf at 6:34 on that evening. Paul E. Keller of Allen’s gunstore was | recalled and swore that the firm had no | record of having sold the particular pistol | which Figel bought on June 1. He how- ever identified the holster. Theodore Figel was the next witness. | In answer o questions oy the Coroner, | he described 1he various entrances and | exits of the, Hoffman & Rothchild store. Th three or four archways and he was standing in the second door in the | second archway from be saw Hoffman. - Then F Cabvinet saloon, on Markef sireet, and got | his package of books and 1he valise that He supposed that he was & minute or two in the saloon. He bad a drink, but he did not remember whether 1t was the first | or the second time he went there. Ay all events he drank alone. He had left the | vackage of books and the satchel in the loon the first time he went there. He met some one be knew when he was rid- ing on the car toward the ferry. He saw Mr. Farnsworth walking and he called to him to get on the car. He thought Farns- worth might be late. ¥igel got on the south side of the car, and he did not know any reason for acing 80 except that the dummy must have been crowded. He saw Farnsworth on | Main street, and motioned him to get on | the car, thinking that he would be late, | but Farnsworth motioned to him that he had time. When Figel got to the ferry | there were two or three.pepple ahead o him in line as he stood waiting for hi ticket. At thattime the gates were not opened for the people to go on board of the boat. He was positive that he did not remain | in the Onbinet saloon more than one or | two minutes, and 1t didn’t take more than half a minute 10 walk from. the store to the saloon. He did net remember how long it haa tuken him to rite from the | saloon to the ferry, but ne had always | figured on six or seven or eight minutes, but he did not think that it took »o long as that to make the boat. He met quite a number of his friends in the wainng- room of the ferry, among them Dr. Blach Henry Eicboff “and .Captain Taom pson He rode to his residence with Mr. E:choff, “The first tine you left the store what door did you leave by?” asked the Coroner. ’ “The Bush-street door—I mean the Battery-street door.” “Did you have any books with you?” *“Yes, sir, I took them with me. Then I went to the Safe Deposit building at Bush and Sansome and unlocked my fa Tintended to put a paper away, but when 1looked through my box I found I had left the paper at the office. I then went across the «ireet, Sansome and Bush, and spoke 1o Mr. Jacobs. Then I walked along Sansome to Market and lookea at my watch and found it wes five minutes t0 6, and T was tninking whetber I would take the 6 o'clock narrow.gauge or the 6:30. 1 turned around and noticed Allen's gunstore there ana went and bought a pistol there for $13 60. That was for the pistal ana cartridges, because I intended | | | ment showed that Figel robably bought the pistol that killed offman | thought I would go to the tailor, Charles to work at night in the store. Then I | work at might in the store. | me he wanted to buy a revolver, and I told | be had left 1here, and went.1o the ferry. | employes. T. Allen, proprietor of a gunstore, four, | five or six years ago. He had never bought a pistol from any otber place, and the only other firearm he possessed was a parlor rifle which he had bought from Clabrough, Golcher & Co. He added that he had had the revolver from three o six s your purpose in buyinga | revolver?” asked the Coroner. “Whnen skea the witness in turn. ‘‘At the time you left the store on the | 1st of June.” “‘Because,” replied Figel, I intended to | About a week | or ten days before that time Hotfman told him I had one. He asked me if it would zo off, and I said it would, but that it was too small I thought. He said it was large | enough for him. Isold it to him for $5. | That was in his office.” | “Was anybody present when yousold | him this revoiver?” was asked, “Yes; I suppose the other officers and It was sola in Mr. Rothehild’s office. The witness was shown the bunch of | keys belonging to Hoffman, also his own, and he identitied them. In answer to the question as to what had become of the Key to the Battery-street entrance, he said he had mislaid it. He had had two key- rings—one for his Page-street reside: and the other for the store. When he gave up his residence on Page street he puiall the keys on one ring. He gave the old ring to one of the boys, and he ham- | mered it straight, it having been bent. A week or ten davs after that time he came down to the office one evening to work | and discovered that he had lost the key. | He opened the dcor of the Bush-street entrance, and the glass door on the inside was locked, and he forced the bolt and got in. 71hat about the middie of May. Mr. Hoffman was there then. “When did Gellert relieve you of the cash?”’ was the next question by the Coroner. *‘About a week be| request,” was the answer, Mr. | Hoffman thay I wished 1o be relieved of the casu, because I was busy fixing up the books, aud I wanted Gellert to take it for a few days.'’ “Had you and Mr. Hoffman had any trouble about the cash?” “No, sir. Mr. Hoffman drew se: sums of money closing our books, areceipt.” “Did he object?” ‘‘No, sir; he made some remark that it was not necessary, but he gave me the receipt. I told Gellert that Hoffman had drawn quite a sum of money, and. Gellert asied me if [ had a receipt. That was the firsu time I thought of getting u receipt— when Gellert supgested it to me. Hoff- man gave me the receipt at the store in | the presence of the other officers and em- ployes. Idon't remember whether I told Gellert at the time I got the receipt. That way rather lute on the afternoon of May 18. When i made out this receipt I did uul.‘rluoe the name of Hoffman & Roth- child there. Hoffman signed it and asked | why the name of the firm haa not been putin. I filled in the blank the following day—May 19. I bad left it blank because I thought it mizht be my name in thers instead of Hoffman & Rothcbild. Hoff- | d. be aiin’t want anything said ‘'Was there anything crooked about it?" was asked. . “No, sir; only that Hoffman told me that he didn’t wantto have anybody know anything about it. Hedrew the money al on May 18, the day of , and I asked him to give | | T | bave ssid | with you until you told him yourself?"’ “I told him I had some private business matters with Hoffman that I dian't tell | the Chief, and thai I would tell Mr. Roth- | child. L Rothchiid told me that if he de- sired the Chief 10 know he would et me | tell him.” Figel went on to say that Hoffman showed him several letters that Rothchild wrote, in which he said he desired to re- turn home; there was one letter in par- ticular about private family matters. t was a few days before his death. Did vou make any statement to the Chief of Folice that Hoffman wanted this money to give to Abe Hoffman 2 I might have surmised that he wanted to give it 1o his brother Abe, who was en- gaged to be married. He was talking very confidentially to Abe Hoffman the last month—more 8o than he ever did be- tore. Idon’t remember what he did with the first check; whether he took it to the bank or not. Some of the checks I cashed for him. 1 remember one particularly of $3500 at his office. That was the largest check he drew. I think the check was payable to Tke Hoffman—Isaac or L. Hoff- n—something like that.” Did you make any request to be al- lowed to post up the books since June1?" I made no request; I was then posting up the books on the 31 of June. I might something to Rothchild at his office that I was to post them up. “Did Mr. Hoffman ever ask you whera you got the money to cash those checks?" “No, sir.” “Did you tell him?” “No, sir; but he might have kncwn it. 1 was playing the races-openly, and I snp- posed he knew it. Psople on” the streets knew it, and people in the store knew it."’ Figel, in reply to a question regarding bis dealings in horses, said that he siarted gambling on horser: about the 15ih of December, 1896. He had vlayed before that, bat not as a regular thing—about in toree months orsp. From the arted he bet on every race until the 10th of February, with the exception of onetime when Atkinson was sick and then he didn't play it for two or three days. Kigel received $150 per month sal- ary from the firm oi Hoffman & Roth- child and $50 per month irom Hoffman personally. “He had been receiving this extra $50 for the past three years. He first bought horses about the latter part of March. He paid $400 for one from Wil- liam M. Taylor. A month afterward he bought two horses for $320. After that he paid $900 for another and $800 for another. After that he bought two horses and a balf-interest in a third for $900. ~Did you ever lose any money on the races?”” 'Ot course.” “How much did you lose approximate- y “I don’t know. than I lost?”’ ““‘How much did you win net?’ “Isuppose my nst winnings would be $10,000 since Decem ber, 1896.” id Hoffman know that gaged in piaying the races? I don’t know, but he could have known it. Hisears were open, I guess. I kept no secret of anything.” Did Hoffman ever go to the racetrack I know I won more vou were en- “No, sir; not withme, I had a horse | brought down to the Bush-street entrance one day, but Idon’t know whether Hofl- man looked at him ornot. I toid Gellert thatif he wanted to see a pretty horse to wait around till 12 ¢’clock and he would see one. Ididn’ttell him to come quietly, I10!d Fred Maverstein one holiday ut the racetrack that I had come out to place a bet for a friend.” ‘Whnen Coroner Hawkins asked who that | friend was the witness replied that he did not know that tue friend of gambling pro- clivities wanted his game exposed to the public gaze. The Coroner insisted, and Figel reluctantiy named young Mr. At- kinson as the capitalist for whom he was nlacing a bet. Kigel denied that E.S. Rotbchild of the firm bad spoken 1o him about his betting on the races. He did not remember. He said he had told Mr. Rothchild he was placing a bet for a | Iriend and was not betiing for himself. Figel was asked next about tk which destroyed tne store about years ago and replied that he did not wish to answer. ‘‘Hoffman is dead now, and he was a friend of mine,"” he said, but_on being vressed Figel udmit:ed that one day while Hoffman was looking over the bai- ance-sheet, a week before the rire, Hoff- man remarked that what he would need would be a good fire; thatii he (Hoff- mar) could get anyvbody to set the place on fire he conld make a few dollars. Al the fire Hoffman told Figel that he (Ho man) had kot soma one to do it, and that he didn’t want Figel to say anything about its re three say y | The Looks were correct with the exception 1told bim “London, Paris and—no, it was a note o The checks were signed Hofl- curegated | in asking y anything going down to the store | The business of the firm had been very | prosperous, and he did not think that there had been any faisification of the books. On being pressed for the memorandum which ne said he had made of the check | for $9500, he said that be ddn’t kncw e | whetner it was at the store or not. Mr. e | Hoffman seemed to be in his ususl spirits e | that morning, although the nursegirl had said that he had seemed to be despondent. of the $9500 affair. The business of the firm was then touched upon by the witness in reply to | questions put by the Caroner. There was ue to Mrs. Alexander about $22,000 or $23,000. At the end of the present year tie books showed a profit to the firm of eventy odd thousand dollars, of which bout $30,000 was the piofit of the San neisco end of the firm. When Fizel was asked by the Coroner | for the names of the men who acted as his agents making bets at the racetrack, he named W. M. Taylor and Edgar L. Atkin- son. He paid Atkinsou one-third of all | his winnings under $1500, and $500 for all that he won over that. Mr. Taylor re- | ceived no salary. Figel also had an un- derstanding with George Baldwin to give | bim one half of all winnings nade on tips furnished by Baldwin. Then he tcld about the deceased having instructed him not to pay any of Mrs. Holfman’s biils. He did not know inat Hoffman had any personal enemies, but he Lad family trouble- that Hoffman had had woman. The wi much as $7000 in bank at one time. Daniel T. Ames, an expert on hand- writing, testified that at the request of Rothchild & Ach he had examined the siznature on the $9500 receipt, com paring it with six _or eigh. signatures of l.aac Hoffman given him by the attorneys. He concluded that the signature on the re- ceipt was not written by Hoffman. Lloyd objected to the witness giving his | conclusions, and asked that the alleged genuine signatures be produced and ~ub- mitted to the jury and compared by them with the siznature on the receipt. He also suid that the signatures produced by Rothenild ana Ach should first be proved | to be genuine. Ach objected to Lloyd’s action, saying: “Idon’t propose to sit here and have t e n r | F | counsel make speeches in direct contra- vention of the statute. Mr. Lloyd sho ld not make any comments on the matter.” “I am not making any comments,” re- plied Lioyd, “*but simply want the proper exhibits submitted to ine jury.” The Coroner insisted that there should be no further interruption by the attor- neys, and the witness then gave in minute detail his reason for believing the | signature a forgery. Ames said he noticed | certain similariiies between the writing in the body of the receipt and in the alleged signature of Isaac Hoffman. He said he thought there could be no doubt that the name of Hoffman, Rotbehild & Co. was | written in the receipt before the amount. | Figel had testified to the reverse of this. | _Henry Aco related hisentire connection | with the case. On the2u of June he madean | investigation of the premises of Hoffman, | Rothchild & Co. He saw no trail of blood | between the two offices, sucn as is shown | in_the Chiei’s diugram. | When the witness had proceeded some way on this line the Coroner suggested that he testify regarainz the books of the | tirm of Hoffman, Rothchild & Co. When Mr. Rothchild, his partner, the witness continued, brought him the $9500 receipt the witness realized that if it were a forgery E. S. Rothchild, a brother of his riner, would lose one-third of the amount; if it were genuine he would lose | nothing. | He took the receipt, looked at it ciosely and suspected that the sicnatore was not | kenuine. He informed Chief Le es of the existence of the receipt, telling him his | suspicion of ity character, and suggesting | that if the receipt were a forgery a notive for murder existed. He related his exam- ination of the checkbook and his inter- view with Figel, but brought out nothing that had not already been tully puolished. While he was in the course of explain- ing to the jury the history of the $3500 check the Coroner took an adjournment until 9 o'clock this morning. o AFTERMATH OF THE FIRE. Startling Disclosures Made by Fire Marshal Towe and Attorney Naphthaly. Fire Marshal Towe was'seen last night, and when .asked about an interview said to have taken place between himself and Mr. Naphthaly, stated that he had re- veated yesterday to Mr. Naphtnaly a con- versation that had occurred last Tuesdsy between Theodore Figel and himself. “Last Tuesday evening, while taking a walk, 1 met a zentleman on Hayes street, between Franklin and Gough, who ac- costed me and asked me if I knew him. I answered: ‘Yes, you are Taeodore Figel.’ ‘I see by the papers,’ Figel saia, ‘that you said I was insaiting to you when you | made investigations into the cause of the fire in Hoffman, Alexander & Co.’s store.” ‘I did not say so,’ I replied. ‘I said you were “d—d saucy,” and that your isther cencured vou for not being respect- ful to a pubtic cflicer.” That was the ex- tent of my comment.” “Figel said: ‘All rigcht. When I get upon the stand in this case I will tell all T know about the fire.’ I then said, *You ought to have told it at the time of the fire! and askea him what he knew about it. “His reply was that he ‘would testify that about a week or tenn days before the tire occurred Hoffman had spoken to him abous getting rid of the goods in the store | by means oi a fire, as e could make a | better sale to the underwriters than to any one else, and had a man who wonld do the job.' “To this Ireplied: ‘Itisa funny thing 10 say now that the man is dead. How couid it have been done? You were the last man in the store, and according to Jurown sta:ement ten minutes after you eft the fire was discovered. Everything was locked up and the doors we:e reahot.’ *‘Figel repiied that ‘Hoffman must have | let the man 1n the store betore it was closed, und I now understand why he asked me to remsin and write up his books on that particular evening. I had to take them all out, and as 1 hud prom- ised to take my wife 10 the theater that evening and could not got shaved after 8 NEW TO-DAY —DRY GOODS. DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT! { FINE PRINTED On Monday, June place on sale a special purchase of % I, we will GOODS at the following very low prices. 4 cases 32-inch new design URED SWISS, PRINTED [RISH DIMITIES in an elegant variety of PRICE 12}c yupo. Regular Price 25c. cases: SEOTCH "'LAPBET FIG- Lace Effect Mulls and Printed India Lawns, in both dark and light grounds. Regular Price 15c. designs, at NOTE.—We will also offer this week 2 cases WHITE SATIN BED- SPREADS, full size and handsome $1.75 FEach. Worth $2.50 Each. s 1892, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, (72777 ¥4 121 POST STHEEL, shop. intending to re:urn and put them away.’ | *T then put the question to him, ‘How | couid another man have performed this work and got out of the store in the short space of ten minutes, when you locked the doors an your departure, and when the Fire Department arrived every door was found iuily securec?' *'Figel repiied that he did not know. *1 then said to him that that wasa pretty storv to tell, now that Hoffman was dead, and asked him if he had any witnesses to tesufy that Hoffman had | spoken to him in regard to barning the store before the firé occurred. *Itold my wife and Mr. Atk time—they were the only ones to whom 1 mentioned it." {r. Figel then jumped on a Hayes streetear and proceeded down town. “Mr Naphthaly asked me to-day if I had i any wriiten statement from Hoffman or Figel regarding this fire and I replied that | 1had none. Afier the fire I questioned Figel very closely as to his movements | und his visit to the barber-shop; his clos ing the iron doors preceding it and | ing the books spread on his desk has a ready been stated fully in the papers “The difference beiween Mr. Figel’s ana Mr. Hoffman’s deportment that evening | was very markeda. Figel, as I said before, | was ‘d—d saucy’ and independent and re- | | | | sented my questioning him. Hoffman, on the contrary, when we reached the store gave me every facility to investi- @ insisted on breaking through the saddlery store next door and getting his books it possible, Together we ascended a ladder and looked down npon the ruins. We saw several bo ks that nad uot been consumed in the «flice, and Hoffman in- sistel upon securin: them, although at the time I told him it wouid be dangerous to descend, even for an experienced fire- man. Nothing daunted, he insisted on | going down into the office and securing | the books, and I was obliged to give wa. “From Mr. Hoffman’s actions L am en- | lirely satisfied that he knew no more about the fire than 1 did.” Mr. Naphthaly when seen last evening, after fuily corroborating Fire Marshal Towe's statement, said: matier of fact on the evening of the fire there was a special consignment made to the order of Summerfield, Roman & Co., which had been aelivered from the railroad company, and was on the side- walk awaiting delivery by the draymen to the retail concern. This consignment was of a value exceeding $1000. Besides this there were several otu consignments | awaiting delivery to several retail firms. | Ata late bour, finding that the cases | courd not be conveniently delivered to’ I the consignees in time to have them re- ceipt for the goods or open them, Isaac | Hoffman ordered them returned to the store and delivered the next morning. Does it _seem possible that if he had an | idea of burning his store on that evening | be would not have had these goods | delivered and thereby saved several thou. | sand«~ of dollars? “THE CALL is the oniy paper that has publisbed the report of the sdjusters of | NEW TO-DAY. Theonly genuing Hunyadi Water. | | | | | BEST NATURAL APZRIZNT WATEHi Prescribed and approved for 34 y all the medical authorities, for CONSTI. | PATION, DYSPEPSIA, TORPIDITY OF THE LIVER, HEMORRHOIDS, as weul as for all kindred ailments resulting from | ndiscretion in diet. ears by | ** The prototype of all Bitter Waters.” Lancet. “ ‘‘Speedy, sure, gentle." British MedicalJournal | CAUTION: See that the label | o’clock, I lelt the books as they were, spread on the desk, togo to the barver l bears the signature of the firm Andreas Saxichner. Hunyadi Jinos = that fire, and it would be well to suppl ment the report with the actual figures. From Mr. Naphthaly's suggestion the following figures were obtained from an authentic source: Actual loss fixed by adjusters, $148.520 10; vaius of stock in store at time of fire, $149.- 656 50; actual cost valie of same at time of fire, less discounts as ver statements furnished by the firm of Hoffman, Alexander & Co.. $148,520 10; value of goods saved from fire, as per adjusters’ sccount, $20.000, leaving a balance of $128,520 10, the amount paid by the insurance companies. e Case Against Figel Dismissed. The suit which was filed yesterday by L. Jacobi against Theodore A. Figel to collect & promissory note of the latter to L Gellert was to-day dismissed by the plaintiff in the case. KEW TO-DAY: | Estate of Alex. Mackay. The sale inaugurated to adjust af- | fairs will continue only a few weeks. It will pay you to take advantage of the low prices placed on our entire stock of Furniture, Carpets, Lig_oleums. Antique Chamber Suits, 7 $|6 pieces.. cevese sewed and laid...... $|'00 Heavy Velvets, sewed and 85C laidis oo q Lino]eums......T....A.. 35C $4.25 Prices are cut in every department. ALEX. MACKAY & SON 715 Market Street. Dr. Doherty’gumscicate Body Brussels a-rpets, Dining Tables, exten- Sion. ... 2 Institute Class of Cases Treated. HE MEDICAL, AND SURGICAL DISEASES PRIVATE and CHREONIC Drs JTH, LOST MAN- 3 practical Consultation free. Charges reusots Patients in the country cured at Lome. Call add S DR. W. K. DOHERTY, 850 Markow Street, Sun Fraucisee DR. WONG WOO. HINSE PHYSICIAN AND J surgeon, graduate of the most famous medical calleze in China. bas precticed his profession in e neisco for over twenty rience. <. o cures, not attemps to core, Kheu- matism Paiaiysis, Piles, Dyspep | sia. Consumption. "Asthma, Brigh and all Kid- ney Dis: ases, Blindness. Hear: Diseas:. Diseases of the ‘IThroat, Cancer, Tumors and Sk'n Diseases Male and femle m. cessively trested tion free. Oflice, 776 Ulay st, wher -he mav le consu'ted ut any tme daring the duy 0- eve ing. Hours—9:30 wllax, 1:30108 7109 P M.