The San Francisco call. [volume], May 16, 1907, Page 2, Image 2

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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2
Ex-Boss Will Turn Reformer and Try to Regain the Esteem of Honest Men by Combating Political Corruption
66 ' M^HE law must tal^e its course, and this case will be disposed of
• in strict accordance with' the law and the status of 'the case as
it appears upon the record. Judgment of guilty has been entered in the,
record, and with that standing I shall pronounce sentaicc when the timer
comes. A?o outside factors of any kmd will enter mto the disposition of :
the case." — Statement of Judge Frank H. Dunne.
Bribe Givers Cannot Escape
the Prosecution- s Net
\ '\u25a0•.\u25a0•'-' ->--.-" ;\u25a0'. \u25a0'\u25a0;\u25a0--
Boodlers and Grafters, Big and Little, See
Penitentiary Gates Swing Wide -
CO>"TI3VL'KD FROM PAGE' 1, COLS. 1, 2 AXD S
Ruef asserts that he -has had money transactions with William
F. Herrin in the course of his political relations with* the latter, but
i claims that they have not been of a nature that would warrant the
'.indictment of the Southern Pacific boss.
Schmitz remained silent in the face of Ruefs admissions and
' could not be induced to make any statement in his own defense
last night. -
Judge Duni}e, before whom Ruef pleaded guilty of extortion,
says that justice must take its course, and that he will be compelled
to pass sentence on Ruef. '"'*^ \u25a0 ;
Calhoun and Mullally declare that Ruef's revelations do notj
jeopardize them, and that they will be prepared to dispose of^any
. case brought against them by the graft prosecutors. !
Ruef cried while making -his plea of guilt before Judge Dunne,
and the scene was one of the most remarkable ever witnessed in a
San Francisco court. His most intimate ,friends declare that his
illness is much more serious than is generally believed, and that
he was led to take the stand he did because he believed that h* was
close to death. This fear, they say, shattered Ruef's entire scheme
of philosophy f and changed him from an arrogant and defiant cynic
. to a contrite malefactor, anxious to cleanse himself by complete
confession., %_ A j
»/ Ruef, at any rate, te a changed man and bears every evidence^
of a chastened spirit.
. :'?\u25a0 The graft prosecutors assert that he has been of|ered no
immunity. / . -
.r * Burns summed up the entire significance of yesterday's develop-;
ments in the situation in a single line.
"It's the beginning of 'the end of all the grafters in San' Fran
cisco," he said. , •
Dramatic Scene in Courtroom
When Ruef Confesses Guilt
Prisoner Weeps While Telling the Story of
His Downfall and Disgrace
Frederick A. Brandt
Standing in Judge Dunne's f courtroom in the Temple Sherith
Israel, proclaiming his guilt as an extortioner and;bffering as atone
ment to place his adroit talents at the disposal of* the "graft-iriyes
tigators to free San Francisco of municipal corruption, Abraham ,
. Ruef rent the arras of his soul yesterday and allowed friends arid
foes ? to see him cry.
In this temple of the faith of his fathers Ruef the persifleur was
transformed into Ruef the /penitent, and .there was no. doubt about
the stuff his tears were made of. They were the brine of a dismal
man's eyes and they proved the eternal verity of paradox.
To see Schmitz. temperamental fiddler, shed tears in the same
circumstances would not have been surprising. Ruef, crying, was
such a curiously tragic thing, however, that it created 7 an impres
sion in the courtroom difficult to parallel in tensity. ' ' '&
CONFESSION OF GUILT WAS UNEXPECTED
Ruef's confession of guilt was emphasized becaose of its* unex
pectedness. It came at a time when every one *in the coutroom
expected that Jie was abput to essay a new artifice in his defense.
The surprise that followed the realization of his real purpose was
supreme and positive.
Court did not open yesterday morning until 10:15 o'clock, and
more than an hour was taken up by Ruef's counsel 'in arguing the
motion for a change of venue. Ruef, who had come into court after
an almost sleepless night, was more than usually, reserved. Thin
blue rings were under his eyes; and he sat while the arguments of
his, counsel were being made looking down into his .finely inflected
hands. .* " .
At the conclusion oPthe arguments Judge Dunne announced
that he would not entertain the motion for change of<venue. Ruef
then leaned over to Henry Ach and held a whispered consultation
with him. . j / '"
ACH ASKS FOR CONFERENCE '
Ach arose and addressed the court. . "I am requested: by bur
client, your honor, that it is his desire to have a". conference with
his counsel/ said Ach. "I would like to draw your honor's atten
tion to the fact that up to. this time "Mr. Ruef has not had a single
opportunity to confer with his counsel alone. If the elisor or guards
were not in the same room they were quite close by. I think; in view
of this fact that we might be granted an adjournment until^ say 2
o'clock this afternoon, so that Mr. Ruef might have this' privilege
of conferring with us." ' {\u25a0 -5- \u25a0\u25a0-/ , •
Special Prosecutor Heney arose and declared that Ach had not
stated what was a fact. - »\u2666 - _
; "Mr. Ruef has always been granted privacy in his^conferences
with counsel/s aid Heney.
A wrangle between opposing: counsel was « finally ended by Dis
trict Attorney Langdon, who \ suggested that Ruef and His counsel
be allowed a half hour's recess to confer. This i was agreeable' to
Judge Dunne, who placed his Chambers atlthe disposal of Ruef Ach
and Attorneys Shortridge, Murphy and Fairali; - ,v '
RUEF APPEARS WEAK AND NERVpUS TV
"". Ruef was so weak and nervous whence entered the~ cliambera
with his counsel \u25a0 that he swooned. Ach appeared in the • courtroom
a moment .later for a glass of water and a messenger was sent after
a flask orbrandy. When Ruef revived he told^ his counsel his inten
tion to plead guilty. /\u25a0 v\<
" He' explained that he had sat ; up most of :the .night resolving
his plans, and that he had .prepared: a statement which --he; proposed
reading to, the court. : — J •;..'/ ;v; v " -; .
Ach and Shortridge opposed; the pians disclosed by Ruef '\u25a0They
said that diey^iad; entered' the^ defense believing: that -Ruef's acquit
tal could- be- efTected,. and that: they had^deyoted'all^ them' time arfd
effort with that end m view/- Murphy also declared -that Ruef's inten
tion was ill advised and tried to have hi m "abandon it : '-"\u25a0 " -
• : Ruef, however, ; remained in face : of Tthe opposition of
\u25a0Ins: counsel. Jrlis course was ; decided up6n,-he declared, and^lie
proposed to, follow jt; of the.'consequerices- • *
ATTORNEYS FROM^ THECCASE*
The conference. broke up and Ruef and \u25a0 his; counsel came filin'e
into the courtroom. Langdpn,, Heney VanH^Hiraml; Johnson vcbm&
sel for. the people, were conferring with Rudolph' I Spreckels- when
Ruef and; his attorneys took their seats. 'Efisor' Biggy^sat'a 'few
scats. off and Detective Burns. was chatting with William l'Marchand'
THE SAX. 'FBAyCLSCOrCAjL'L,-/ .MAY 46, ri9o7^
PUBLIC s^faih^^Tviih'ih^
and iheie^^med^tp^
it looked asiihpughhe^erein a positionrtogo- before the- grand: jury- ,
and say >^^Let us: clean up:tlie \ town. } / paid thai moneyHo Ruef:' Then '
with the testimonjfjof the supervisors they n>ou/(^//iave r me! : / You can^
see what the effkei Would be 1 in court:— -From Abe Rucfls confession.
\u25a0•\u25a0:\u25a0-* \u0084\u25a0 "v :.-•.\u25a0 "' ;.'..\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 : -:. :V-r ; .viv-",^:.vv':' .- .- .'^ \ -<; i\u25a0 ?; cc-:;'*-; -
one; of ..,the^ .witnesses i; against :Ruef;on r the'charges of extortion in
I the i.French I restaurant case on 4 trial. ' " * - -
. f^^ r^ wasj expectancy: in ttHejfacwfof fevepy: one! in court when
j Ach arose t6| address^Judge : Dunne. ;^ ;; . . " v-;'
"I' should. likeVto^ask your lionor'spermission -to' retire from
thisxase," said/Ach?. -"My client, and I have vdifferences about the
conduct^of ;this;case, and I ; cannot ;remainlassociated with. lais coun^
sel.: It is my^ intention, -I might add, to take no part in any subse- v
quent cases in which he ; ma^ ; figure." / -
V -"Does your client; consent; td your withdraWar asked Judge
Dunne; \u25a0', ,y '}• .'!* . \u25a0 \u25a0-•\u25a0•.•; \u25a0*-'-. : . *»"\u25a0\u25a0-\u25a0 <• '\u25a0' ,'-\u25a0 :: '"' ',- '
- -Riief half arose to* say- that ; he/did; ich was then extended the'
formal permission he^askedCof Judged Dunne -and left the courtroom
without further. talk* with .Ruef. ... * -
SHpRTRIDGE IS PERMITTED J TO WITHDRAW
r Ach had no. sooner:slipped out the door^vvhen Shortridge arose
a " jTf same request to be excused. TheVequesV was granted;
and Murphy- was arising to address the courts when Heney inter
rupted him. . . ' " \ 7 <' :.
"J, sts [t the mt entio"n of all the counsel- to withdraw* "from this
case ?"~ tasked Heney. ./•'.- •'../•. • ..' •- ", \u25a0\u25a0
... - " T wj 1 ] explain^myself presehtly, M^answered Murphy. '\u25a0' I should
ii ke ; to intorm your honor," \u25a0- He continued. \u25a0 turning toward p Judge
JJunne, that I also disagree, with the -defendant about the conduct
ot this case. : I believe" it is ray -duty, however, -to remain i There;- in
I court,; notwithstanding any of his subsequent; actions, andgive him
the benefit of my advice in ;this or dottier. leases, in which J He
may, figure." >J -; \ _;;-' \u25a0-'. \u25a0•;,.••\u25a0 " C'; >- x '. ' \u25a0•'-\u25a0\u25a0'-.
''&~ffi^i^}&^ though indorsing
Murphy s decision and' signifying;,that he ; had^adopted it as his oWni
\u25a0; >^-fleneyUnd:Langdon- turned ! and^e P atheir/ eyes- bnNßjief.^^lt 1
was Y er X evident that the adtion of and came as a
surprise to them and that they were trying, to "analyze what Ruef's
next move was to be. v 's'-'-'- '' r '"'":"h:' r - ''\u25a0•'\u25a0'..-•\u25a0. : .t':C. *iS;-':;
PLEADs'INABILITY^ TO STAND iSTR^INN /' ' \
Ruef arose, shook Himself, and. began 3o^ talk iii such a precise
manner that for a moment or . two '\u25a0\u25a0 it , was the belief of, every one in
court^thatjie^was tospring a cbup;by^appearm g^ s his ownicoun-
s r e V leaned further- over his:table\; • Heney 's eyes glittered/
Johnson surveyed Ruef, steadily thfoughihisismbked glasses; -They
were all tense with u alertness: v' Ruef said :' . I ; : .
"If your honor/ please, I desire \u25a0 to make a'statement.
I do so only after a short consultation with my attorneys,
to^w 1701 ? 1 \ \u25a0 onlyV within : the iast\ half^ hour disclosed .
\u25a0 - my-;m y-;^ et s™™ a^?n»"?and against^ their expressed protest. I .
take this occasion to thank' them for their services, fidelity
and friendship." • v .. . '
Ruef paused a, moment arid.then lifted from the table a yellow '
paper manuscript. *.'• He held- this" in his right hand and half I spoke
and ha\f read \u25a0 from lit -alternately. \u25a0 ";' >\u25a0:.'• \u25a0 x :
\.. "Notwithstanding -the court's finding - yesterday that ' !
'^s.triaJ "ig^b? 'safely carriedori withomsenous injury 2 : ,
to my health, physical and mental* I- wish to ; ; assure' you that
my personal condition is;such:tha^l am time i ;
:. absolu^ el y unablelto .bear for twc^r^reeirr^rithsrdailyVthe^^^^^^ ; i
y strain 'of an actual tiial of %isc'ase/Ae consequent continual V ' '
prep^ation^ereforfand thenecessary^consult^on 4 ]
? rand conversation i withj my \u25a0 attorneys ll in; regard - to : '
\u25a0[\u25a0;\u25a0 say. nothing ; of otKer;:caVes'and:respo^ : - !
/Ruef paused again v and began^
draughts continually throughoutlthe- remainder of his unique con- •
fession, and the bailiff had to; refill the; glass .several 'times.^;: :
*.; ; When the tears would ;comei;as triey^did; every tiirie he would \
refei ; to ! lis family, the; name he had before he dishonored : : it; and !
I the ideals that hejabandpned, -Ruef iwquldVreach for ''tHe-'glass,- take 1
I a_small : swallow. of wateranci mop^hisfaceNwitha sillc" handkerchief.
| His voice was vibrant with emotion; and; when the tears that would \
not : be stifled interrupted, his; ; reading; from theJ.manuscriptVthere ,
was an uneasy stillness in the \u25a0 Perspiration- began to
break out on the forehead of Fairall/Judge Dunnes rnputh-clrooped:
The prosecuting attorneys kept shifting in"their;chairs.v \u25a0"\u25a0:'. - : ?'.-. "'
;_ Ruef;read on: ; > ••-/.-' : : ;\u25a0 . .'-. •. \u25a0'\u25a0• '\u25a0 ';'\u25a0';'--.;->;.: ' V \u25a0 •
FORMALLY ENTERS-PLEA OF GUILTY- V- !
"Moreover, the y strain? of these proceedings; upon those
. whom I hold: nearestjand dearest of all drr eairth ? has been
so; grave^ and severe j that as a ; result of <\u25a0 thMe" prosecutions
.their health hasj been; undermined ; i they are 6n the^verge
°f collapse, . and.;their. lives are indeed now, actually "in the
. ;' balance.", C / v \-',;;. :'-\u25a0' \u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0','\u25a0\u25a0': •.-:: •\u25a0'." '../\u25a0 .- ;;, -\u25a0-;\u25a0;.-;\u25a0'\u25a0' - : ,\ :
"I haye 1 occupied a somewhat prominent position in the
:of my t birth,ari which I have lived all myaifef where^ h:[
are all my^ties and; interests, whence,, when the tirrie comes,
/ ! ho P c to , Pass intothe sleeps I hav^bbrneari hon
\u25a0;; ored 1 ? J --»"; mv \u25a0 Pr iv at« andvprofessional'life'there has^
been no stain ; mi my 'public j affiliations ' until the ' munci- : '
pal; campaign of \ 1905; an^^the'election of the present board"
of - supervisors; itheJabHorfent charges of the press to^ the ; i
i- : "". cpP ti:ar y; n ° twi thstarildmg7 no /action of mine-ever gave
justj ust ground ' for - adverse" criticism \oh deserved censure? * But
1 the 'assault of the press their failure to credit iiishonesty 'ft
; of : purpose; and a^' desired to! Hold, together a- political organi- ; -.\u25a0'
vzation;iwhicli^ had; been V built 'up^with much effort— -means '
of holding; it \u25a0together/ being otherwise irnpossible^-did *\u25a0 in
-:_\u25a0.; a measurej influence .-; me and corrupted j the high U ideals for
. which" LhadHh^etbforelstxiyen. , \u0084, x
" Dli ring the^past ttwo^weeks \\ 1 \ have "'. thought: deeply ' \u25a0
often of i this .situation; : its arid li conditions *
To ; offer, excusesv now' would Jbe: folly/ To^niake an^e
at some reparation ? for." the^ public -good is^hbweverrmbre \u25a0 <
than ; possible. \u25a0;/ To assist in* making.more -difficulty if not
: impossible; ; the system! which'dormnates' our public men -a
£coirupts: pur^ politics; will befa: welcome taslc^Sl^have'de-^-^
; ; -J^J that^w^atever^energy; or abmty-;i p O ssess?fbr the V
" f " tu r e , shall bevdevoted^even^iii{the^hurnDlest?capacity^o^^^^^^^
restonngAthe,ideals^that?have;been lowered.- .
;X/'I shall, .as^oon-rasrbpp^^^
the side^ of good citizenship Vandt integrity: May it'be
-allotted^torae^t^omettimethereaftwto-haVe^
sr *™+ P^^^Vr c^ s^ bl^J lment ' o n a clear-sane-basis^f "
- a Pl^^^gfeciyicmoraj^a^justrw
,the^constandy.:struggling;:cpristituen^
our \u25a0 governmental] .and* industrial ;-lifej \u25a0! ." ; : -; . r ;
jP w arp?S -i°- :mak ! the eatest sacrifice which can
being , of my disposition,' tb^ackndWledge >
-whatever'^^
, % so far ; a 9, may >.bt{mti&*my power to make it riglit: -
\u25a0 VI reache(lithe|fi|ialMetenniriatibn"last!^ •
V^ul^flectioni^dJ^^
to-follow;
; an 4i^ w ?^^^Ple a sant^ and, painful the Result \u25a0
- ; I makethisstatement soTtHat .the court and the wJSL '«£S m- ;
Hah*'--« iii 1 ' "- •\u25a0 *"*. .'\u25a0 i "\u25a0"\u25a0 •\u25a0\u25a0if.-'i,*-'#>•'--;i f .-'i ,*-'#>•'- - ; . \u25a0?\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0-\u25a0 \u25a0".-- \u0084 . , :u: v i l " c , iWnoie \ world . -
h JchlHav|l^ide^|me^in *
UieJstepMalS|a^oumo^lce^As?ari
. mme<ytoJmakeTalbegmnme.wlfaslsrn^ : w^^^i,%*^i™ >
, to withdraw my plea of not. guilty and to enter the con
fu^r^^^^a^o^^^r^^»^^^^ CoUrt
When he had finished ' Ruef, almost "collapsed iii h;s chair.
Ruef's Confession Will Not
Keep Him Out of Prison
Judge .Dunne Sets at Rest All Doubt
Concerning Question of Immunity-
•Abraham Ruef will go to.prison. /There .will be no immunity given
the confessed arch boodler in" return for his confession involving the others
who share' his . shame; no leniency will be shown because at , the hour when
his las^t; resource was exhausted he arose in court and admitted his guilt;
but, --instead, ; justice will be dealt according to the relentless mandate of
the ; laW, arid will be passed in accordance with the. plea entered
yesterday morning. 1 \u0084 Of ; . -/-"*'
fate lies in the hands of one man— a man who has already shown
countless; times ""."during the preliminary proceedings -in Ruef's case that no
influence "could affect his determination •
to i : interpret s the; law literally as it is
fctund ' i in i .the/ statute" bookstand, with
out], partiality;; or.* favor X because 'of " the
defendant's iprominence". \ Judge \ Diinne
alone;; has ? the'authority to 5 say what
Ruef 's> punishment 'shall -be A for the
crimes -he ;hasjconfessed,' and the; etat
utes {empower^ him to order Ruef ' Im
prisoned for any term not in excess of
five • years *, : !:' \u25a0. \u25a0 \u25a0•
v District /AttorneyVLangrdon and the
other.*" members ; of the prosecution re
fused * discuss : any, phase -^ of Ruef's
confessionXto ';the ": court yesterday,' to
say ;> .'what l results , ; might,., be' expected
from ; the detailed * testimony' concerning
corruptionlwhich he; has him
self to give.*, or * to discuss v the possi
bility, ot -an .'immunity j bathj similar 1 to
that which -had ibeeny given " the | guilty
supervisors. Judge ; Dunne ; himself ; set
at ; rest : all J d oubt ; concern ing i the ',. ques
tion L of immunity ln'a "statemenfyester
day^afternoori^Hihl.whlch ?he* explicitly
skated; that the 'lawjmust s take Jtsregu-,
larloourse andin^which^he implied that
the v passing!; of J; sentence /cannot now
be* influenced '6rfstay%<j;; by ithe;prosecur
tloii, ; even * should' such \an effort \u25a0'; be
made. 'Ho said:- . ' '
LAW MUST TAKE ITS COIJRSE!
"I have scarcely-, recovered \u25a0 from "\u25a0 the
surprise "i: occasioned ; -by •; the* turn " oft
events/ this] morning, r I J had : learned' to
expect •;: many ' } surprl sea '; during - -,- . the
course i of i this-^trial, i but \ 1} had I no] Ink
ling 'of .what was to ;come x untll|th©'de-.
f endan ti. himself . ; made"- his
At I the! close : of the •conference^ between
thedefendantand-hls attorneys I real
ized i that some? surprising ; development
was at v hand,^but I had no suspicion
of .whatsit .was. 4 " 'j-'Mi -; ; ; '->;': -X>'
"As ; to s the'; further steps] ln this, case,
I 8hall ; of courses be : guided r by 'the law.
The Vdistrict 5 attorney.2 as j the Cpublio
prosecuting^ official,^ njayj;have -certain
recommendations-, to'^ make jandjj? shall
of /course's be %^by'i his ;\wishesl
Howe ver,*! the '-\u25a0 i*w 'must; take its' course^'
This '\u25a0 case £win f ;b"e!disposedf of / In "strict 1
accordance .with; the law" and; the status;
ITeney,^ca^ every evidence of
astbriisHment,Varbse . and: said V- V *
? "If the defendant wishes to ; change his plea of not guilty to
guilty the^ prosecuting^ attorneys .will consent to the discharge of
the : jury^ as v he : requests. We will have'the indictment reread, so
thathe may-enter the plea as he wishes:?-^ V x
; .The reading of the indictment, formally charging Ruef with
extortion' in the case of the Delmbnico Restaurant, occupied but a
moment.;- :: . :; . ' \u0084, r
is your plea?" asked, the clerk. '\u0084
;v"Guilty,''said RuefjValmost inaudibly. V
; ; Judge ; ;punne: then discharged: the jury.; 'Sentence was post
poned \byVJudge: Dunne at the of DistrictVAttorney Lang
don for 30 days. ;\u25a0 " >';. .
That * ended the trial. ; The . events : of; the : morning had come in
such unusual Sequence ' that their, significance was \u25a0 reflected -in every
face. v-~:~;' r ":[ ;'}.-."- •\ : ' / :'''. y.' ''\u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0.\u25a0 -'\u25a0 \u25a0. ' : 'f-'' \u25a0\u25a0/ \u25a0 " '" :
' The: first -one to reach Ruef's. side when court was r adjourned
was^,MyrtilelGerf{ 'vTears/glistehed Jnf Gerfjs eyes. He put-iis arm
around ; : RuefV shoulder and > began ; patting him. : Ruef, " dejected;
kept his eyes- on : tKe grained table as Cerf whispered in -his ear.
The -sun -was; beginning .to come : through;theHemple windows and
glinted^across;ftheltable^v.Ruef t moved his chair. Cerfr nudged -up
to J him and (continued' his' .whispers. A : few , feet off . Biggy and
Burhskept^ watching/them. i V ;\ . ' «'.
FRIENDS OFFER OF CONSOLATION^
Ruefs Vcorifessiori ; did riot prevent ; a number 'of his friends
from stealing
ip^ke ; l6ngitqihim,^butsas^they : . left they •'could:;be^h*eard«muttering
unkind .about the -way Acti{ahri \u25a0 Shortridge ? had " abandoned
hjmjini the •} crux his, distress. 1 ; Ruef was heard to tell
one ;?bf _ his friends)? that: he : had : ] expected ' all iof his attorneys to
leave him^;arid- that : he ; didn't ; see' r anything unusual in ;the conduct
of :AcH v : and; Shortridge;' / \u0084," t '.- : ; ; '' : ; ; - -V
; When Ruef left; the with Biggy ; a press 'of people
was:collecte^^but(j|ide'th^^ternple:tp^ '
; \yy -A^big^red /^cusHioned^homas;aut^rnbbile«"was awaiting^Riief at
thejeurb: : jßiggy/clifnb'ed in|the;seatTal6ngside;Ruef ; in<the;tonrieauJ
I Just; before the \u25a0 driver^started- Burns climbed; up in * the seat at; his
; side^^fhe^Hhe^
phorycblored rfair 'was hear xto say,:, A V -/v/ v
Burns 5 gets finished s himhe'll;know things
that!will make more' than one .millionaire^ have troubled sleep " " -' •
; Who i doubtsnt?/r:^r;- v -^f{'^;:vV;-r^; :: \u25a0"'>•• V- •\u25a0 ' " : - -y'V'^
''Theßeginmhgzbf
0h
S^fMyj lips are Healed. All ' I 'can say Is,
tt l» . thie beßlanrris:; of <he r end. t '-^-Statef
, inent -;of \u25a0 Detective iWllllam? J. v Burns. . \u25a0'_."'
" The \ members '.of \u25a0 the attor
ney's force inr charge of the graft prosed
cutton* refused, to discuss any "of : the
startling '^development* -: In \u25a0 connection i
.With'jßueraTconf ession of guilt In -open j
.court| yesterdajr.^Aß |soon|a.«sthey 5 left |
:th^courtr6sm?D!BtrlctFAttojrney^lJang-;]: th^courtr6sm?D!BtrlctFAttojrney^lJang-;]
"don*/A"ssistont|pist^ctfXttorney^Heney;
Spe^al|Prosecutdr}Hiram"fJ6h*nßOri^Mid
DetecUve^WUllarnf/J.^BurnaXweht^mtd
conference [ and d.ecidedjnb tt to^ give fout
any| s tatemehtiwhateyeK t '' -.'-•', ':; ~.V"!<v:j'.'.p
J^ConcernlngrJ thef details fof fho w \Rueifs
confessloniwaslse^uredjorrjthelknowl-*
edge|6f|what|tufnXev^nts|would|takeT
j I t| Is jfdeemed li better |by| the) prosecutors
;to«* i wlthh6ld|lnformation. B f^TheyJ^have
[ takerif the 11 stand i.that^ results 7 speak • for
'''\u25a0\u25a0"\u25a0
I 'AU I canisayiis;>it" is] the beginning
j of(trte^end/||declaredfßums;iastfriight, J
\*lS§. P tylsS In i|eff ecti^was fall |that 1 any.
memb^f/ofJti^Tprosecutlonlwbuldlisay.'
i LangdonTfsubihitted?).t6^:i an 'interview
J equaUyTas]briefyj§He < said :^^ffi^BHß
\u25a0 '"I ! cannot; aisciiss , the cage^tWl?£Vyi>
/CAN only -repeat that I will honestly answer any question asked
me. 1 am ? a friend: oj ' Tirey Ford. .He is one of the lasi men I
would want to injure, faiykenl am called I will protect no one, I da^
. nit wan Ito be pii t down as a squealer. L have made no written con
i fession. >/ do not Mhoxs whether I will go before the grand jury. That
Msf or others to determine:— From Abe Ruefs confession.
jof ~ the '\ case- as i it appears % upon** the
j record.: ; Judgment '; of guilty], has been
! entered :in .the ij record, \gnd \u25a0 with that
i standing ,; -I shall.p ronounce ,' sentence
when ; the time", comes. ", No outside fac
tors of ", any . kind will enter : into \ the
disposition. of} the case." A*
\u25a0\u25a0v. Ruefs case^was continued two weeks
" for 1 judgment,^ which; means that unless
a "further postponement should ;be
grantedvat -that " tinie - sentence «-wJll :
then.b e passed.* Judge ; Dunne's rtate- •
ment that the further steps "In the case j
would . possibly ' be: guided by the; rec- j
ommendations of the' district attorney |
suggests ; the; possibility .that this ; post- \
ponement may;occur. Should, the pros
ecution desire to keep Ruef at , hand ; to
assist lih '- unearthing damaging testi-r
mony. .against.* other curruptloplsts
under Investigation by the grand Juo*»
an- Indefinite postponement would prob
ably ; be ;nece9sary.; to : .: accomplish this
end. It Jis '^undoubtedly this to which
Judge * Dunne,' ref ersr» r but his *j following
words dispose of the possibility of ulti
mate .immunity." ' «
J . ; PEVALTYPOR EXTORTIO S
Section \u25a0's2o*"of^the"'Pei.al 'Code, fixes
the f penalty f or, the crime of extortion,
arid ;is -the ; section . under : which Ruef
will be" sentenced. ' -It j reads:
t \u25a0' "Every ; person who extorts .' any
money or, other property from another,
under,; circumstances not amounting to
' robbery," by/* means; _ of \ force, .or. any
threat, such' as is mentioned in the pre
| ceding section, Is punishable by lmpris
j'onment 'In-; the state prison notexceed
i ing five years." \u25a0-;>.] \u25a0 ;''\u25a0'-/
:'\ln : whatever manner the prosecution
may .expect' to : use. Ruef,. "it Trill not
.take^any.' gfeatyength-of \u25a0 time to put
his complete' confession into " form for
.use In the courts, so that even. with one;
orimore* postponements [of . sentence . for j
thlsl purpose lt^wlll ibe" frut a few .weeks
until v th«v' former r boss *of i Ban ; Tra.n
ciscoi Is- treading^th&^corridorsj of San
Quentin )pfißori,j; garbed 'in - the- stripes
of a !fe"lon.' -; \u25a0'\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0.* ;\u25a0 " ."-\u25a0-"\u25a0s ; : ~ j
have;decided not' ; to/comment upon, the
matter.inor /givey out " any ' 'statements.
AsLjto^ what jthe^results imay (be.t just
wait*and seel. Now, let's talk about the
weather.'* ' ''"'-Z- ••'-. % . •
In thousanda • and . thousands \u25a0 of ;
jhomes^ in' cities j, towns andy villages-- i
day of Hood's Sarsapa-
jnUajaren now " : being ' taken by every
'member of the family.
j and; general nse ?4? 4
• Because Hood's SarSaparilJa has"proved
\u25a0itself jthejßest, Spring •Medicine, by its
'^wonderful effects j iii ; cleansing ] the ' sy s-
\u25a0 tern ?< of humors,^ overcoming that
i tir^ fjeeUng^creating appetite; clearing^
tKef complexion i -giving ; strength and
animationr^, :v ,; : \u0084= - ' ;
i v; Over {forty i thousand: testimonials re-
' ceived'in^two^yearsiiby 'actual count.*
'~i ' .{ -\ : Xy. . .^
Hood's Sarsaparilla
rK^^al liquid form or chocolated tab-
lets u "called f Sarsataba. Doses s $I.'
under Food and Drugs Act,
Schmitz SeeksiSplliude
and Repels All Visitors
Battles AJone With Panic of Fear
Induced By Ruefs
: Mayor Schmltz, robbed at last of hla
only - remaining hope of escape from
punishment; for his criminal treachery
to a sacred trust, and Involved beyond
possibility of extrication in the prose
cution's net of damnlnj? evidence by
Ruef's confession of his own guilt and
offer to turn prosecutor, barricaded his
official castle yesterday and refused ad
mission to anyone seeking an interview
In connection with the developments in
Judge Dunne's court.
The door of* the executive bffic* at
Franklin and Post streets was kept
locked.' and orders were Issued to th»
members of the office force to admit no
one except on the most urgent munici
pal business. £ack In his private ofßca
in the rear of tRe dwelling Schmitz sat
alone battling with panic of fear
I that the knowledge of , Ruefs act
[brought to his breast. The desertion
| which he had feared since ths first In
dictments ln^ the graft cases were re
turned had become a reality, and with
Reuf no longer by his side, but with
Ruef's knowledge of all his crimes re
vealed to . rieney and Burns. Schmita
schemed hopelessly for some possible
way to avoid the inevitable.
< "The mayor has given word that he
ils not to b§ disturbed. He will not sea
anyone, and will not make any. kind of
a - statement," was the word given at
the ; doof ' by his ; subordinates. \u25a0
An effort to, reach him at his home
last-night resulted as fruitlessly as the
, rlslt to his office. 'His only .words
w,ere: ;•
"I have nothing to cay and will not
give out a -statement now, tomorrow or
j at ; any other time."
HOJfDA VICTIMS ARE IMPnO\IXO
SAN LUIS OBISPO. May 15.— Martin
L. Henry. J. C. Moffedltz and W. H.
Boyd of Reading:, Pa.; W. R. Loa of
Harrisburg. Pa.; U. A. Hartzel of Eas
ton. Pa., are the injured remaining at
the hospitals here from the La Honda
wreck. .Their condition continues to
improve. Mrs. Fred Orummond.
Tfharles McKlnney and wife of Bing
hamton. N. Y^; A. "W. Rappole and
wife of Bemljpoint. N.T.. Mrs. Harri
son" -Hendle and daughter. Helen, of
Reading. Pai, departed yesterday for
their homes. The condition of Engineer
Champlain and Fireman Thompson Is
serious.
- DR." PIERCES REMEDIES
Are You Tired, Nervous
and Sleepless ?
yj NerVousnesi . and sleeplessness^ aro < us-
uallr due to the fact that the nerves ar»
not fed. on \u25a0 properly ; noorlshlnff blood;,
they 'are starved nerves. , DrTTPlerce's
Golden Medical Discovery ouzfce* pure*
rich blood; and thereby > the nerves ara
properly, nourished and all the organs of
the body are run as smoothly as machin-
ery which 'runs In oil.' In this way yon.
-feel clean, strong and strenuou*— yoa ara
toned upland invigorated, and you uro
good for a whole lot of physical or mental
work. Best of all, the strength and In-
crease In vitality and health are lasting.
The trouble with most tonics and med-
icines which have a large, booming sals
for a short-time, is that they ara largely
composed of alcohol holding the drugs In
. solution. This alcohol shrinks up the red
i .blood corpuscles, and In the v long run
greatly Injures the system. One may feel
exhilarated and better for the time being,
yet in. the end weakened and with vitality
decreased. Dr. Plerce's Golden' Medical
Discovery contains no alcohoL Every
bottle of It bears .upon Its wrapper Tha
Badge of Honesty, in a full list of all lta
: several ingredients. For the drogjrist to
offer you something he claims Is "Just a*
* good •. is to , insult your intelligence. .
Every ingredient entering into th«
world-famed" Golden MedlcalDlscorery »
has the unanimous approval arid endorse-
ment of , the leading medical authorities
- of all the several schools of practice. -No
other medicine sold through druggists for
like purposes has any such endorsement.
The " Golden Medical Discovery " no*
only produces all the good effects to b«
obtained s from the use of. Golden Seal
root.' > in, all stomach,- liver -and bowel
. troubles, as In dyspepsia, biliousness, con-
stipation, ulceration of stomach and
bowels and kindred .ailments, but the
-Golden Seal root used In its /compound-
\u25a0 ing Is greatly enhanced In its curative ac-
tion by other Ingredients such as Stone
root. Black Cherrybark, Bloodroot, Man-
drake root ; and chemically pure trlple-
refined : glycerine. >
\TThe Common Sense Medical Adviser."
Is sent free in paper, covers on receipt of
21 one-cent stamps to pay the cost of mail-
: tag only. " For 31 s t .mps the cloth-bound
volume will be sent Address Dr. E. V.
Pierce. Buffalo, N.T." _
.', Bi.'Fierce's Pleasant Pellets cure con-
stipation, biliousness and headache. "
hninrcp'c] Genuine Must'Cear)
J^ K!tM Fac-Simib Signature,
substitutes)
I - r ;. ;. ,- ' /•. v \u25a0.. ? .
! SL Pabst Blue Rib-
\-XaL '^%" Don Beer". . at • meals and
fell ffSsflv meals, both as
ra*"fl«^^ an. aid to digestion and for
irTu^fr**! *^ c ton^ P ro P^ rt i e 3 of
'fj J " U*^^! the hops it contains.
\:li» -^ It b rich in food values
CSgjJr from the Pabst Perfect
. Eight-Day Malt,- and con-
;y»; y» \u25a0« ff\ tains' only, enough alcohol
If ' Iti *° ' s^ mu^ a *® : the digestive
* H\\ organs to healthy action.
i 3l T - : vi! Yoa ;wiU : never acquire. ,
« • ' Wfll but overcome, the desire for
\(alsmb£S] stron ? drink by using Pabst
jjßg^^^g Blue Kibbcm Beer, because
fvl^fln \]& food lvalues \u25a0 f ar \u25a0, exceed
>/^"^BJpP"*^ its stimulating properties.
Tho».~.w" Collins A Co..'
:334Larkln-St.,*San Francisco.
\u25a0.•;; Phone" Market" 2s43. " '