The San Francisco call., 1896-01-03
Startling Statement by Inspector
Williams About the
Accused.
THOSE ATLANTA FAIR CHINESE.
They and the Highbinders Are Giving
the Custom.House No End of
Trouble.

Collector of the Port John H. Wise is
after the scalp of Samuel j. Ruddell, the
Deputy Surveyor. Mr.. Wise is of the opin-
ion that RuddeIl has been acting the
enemy while playing the friend. An in
vestigation of Mr.. Ruddell is now in prog
rcss and orders are expected by Special
Agent Moore at any time from the Treas
ury Department to prepare full and COM
plete report on Mr.. Ruddell's record.
1t was almost Wholly due to Wise's
efforts in Ruddell's behalf that Surveyor
William D. English retained Ruddell as
deputy 0hen Paris Kiburn went out of
the Surveyorship. Ruddell is Democrat,
and Wise believed him to be personal as
we'll as political friend. Wise does rot
now bel ieve that Ruddell is either.
The present clash between the Collector
OF the Port and the Deputy Surveyor was
caused by Ruddel's conduct in connection
with the admission into this City OF the
Atlanta Fair Chinese. said to have been
imported by Lang Nam and Tong Ching,
alias Little Pete"
Ruddell made very poor success, it is
charged. of his effort to intercept the
train at Port Costa upon which the Chi
nese were to arrlve-so poor it is said
that the train with the Chinese left Port
Costa some time before Ruddell's subor-
dinates arrived there.
Ruddell, it is further alleged, caused to
be trumped up a story insinuating that
Chinese Inspector Richard Williams was
responsible for the failure To intercept by
reason OF collusion with the importers
The whole matter of intercepting the
train was placed in the hands of Ruddell,
who sent District Officer Leary OF the Pa
AfaY1 Il, Oh
Chinese interpreter named Louie Quong
to do the work, but the train, of course,
did not wait for them-it had no particu-
lar reason to disregard the railroad time
schedule.
There have been several very warm in
terviews between Collector Wise and Rud-
dell i'll the formers office since that incl
dent. With Williams on hand to face
Ruddell the Collector has simply touched
his button and compelled the Deputy
Surveyor to appear. At RuddelPs last ap-
pearance he was fatty charged with caus-
ing the publication in the Examiner of the
story containing the insinuatlons against
Williams. Ruddell disciaimed all connec-
ton with it, and tried to act as plausibly
as possible under the circumstances.
Williams also took him to task to his
face ior the story, and challenged him to
show one instance wherein any collusion
between Williams and the Chinese i'm
porters OF unfortunate women could be
shown. Williams also gave him to under
stand that a comparison of records might
be in order and he would see that one was
made. He reminded Ruddell of the scan
dals inthe Chinese bureau when Ruddell
was in that branch of the service.
The interview closed very hotly and
open hostilities were declared by Messrs.
Wise and Williams against Ruddell
thenceforth. Since then Williams has
made z few trips to the Appraisers build
ing and each time visited the office OF
Special Treasury Agent Moore. who has
been Watching Ruddell for some time.
An effort was made to ascertain from
Moore yesterday afternoon If any investl-
CATION of Ruddell's record since he has
been connected with the customs service
would be made, but Moore would not COM
nit himself. The nature of Moore's du-
ties, it seems, will not permit him to di-
vulge his intentions. But from other
sources it is learned that Ruddell is to be
accused by Collector Wise of betraying
the secrets of the Custom-house and caus-
ing false reports to be published, provided
the collector can establish the slightest
proof that Ruddell has really been guilty
of so doing.
There have been numerous attacks in the
Examiner upon the Collector and Wise
has been led to inquire into their anlmus
and motive. He IS now half convinced