The San Francisco call., 1906-10-23
Maestretti Said to Have
Given Burns and Heney
Information of Value
DETECTIVE LAUGHS
AT RUEF'S BOASTS
Offer of the City Boss to
Cooperate" Amuses the
Men at Work on the Case

w. J. Burns and Attorney Francis ].
Heney, who have undertaken to rid
San Francisco of the grafters, carry,
Abe Ruef and Mayor Schmitz will
have been indicted before another
month has passed. Heney and Burns
are not saying much. They are for
action. Abe Ruef is proclaiming his
innocence and Mayor Schmitz is in
Europe.
you may say" declared Burns
last night with an emphasis that be-
spoke certainty, "that we are going
to get the crooks"
He would not discuss his plan of
action, but remarked philosophically,
81 did not accuse Dinmick of the
Mint robbery until was able to con-
front him with enough evidence to
convict"
Burns was inclined to laugh at the
claim made by Ruef that he has known
of Burns purpose for several months.
"Ruef knew nothing about it until
he read of it in the papers," said
Burns. He is guessing, merely
guessing"
aRuef says he is willing to CO.
operate with you" Burns was in
formed.
The detective smiled a broad smile.
Perhaps we can do very well alone"
he suggested.
feney and Ruef now stand face to
face; one the prosecutor. the other a
defendant Ruef awaits the first sally
of his foe with an indifference born of
a cold, politically chilled disposition.
He Is the politician at bay; the other
the lawyer armed with multitude of
sharpened barbs of law and fact from
which has been extracted no modicum
of sting.
Burns, Secret Service agent, AYERS
that he has followed the trail of the
serpent during six months Of time. The
serpent, like the worm, has turned.
VIII it be crushed or will it be able to
put up consistent fight?
Francis ]. Heney formally assumed
office yesterday as Assistant District
Attorney of San Francisco. From now
on events may be expected to follow
in rapid succession in the investigation
of graft charged against administra-
ton officials and bosses.
general misunderstanding prevails
that Heney's assumption of office
means that the inquiry into the con-
duct of Schmitz. Ruef ct al. is in It's
enough evidence has already been OBJ
tanned to warrant indictment and pros
ecution. The new Grand Jury will be
sworn in on Wednesday. Heney will
at once place before the jurors the evil
dence which Burns has collected and
ask for indictments.
Heney and Burns delayed announce
ment of their plans until they were
convinced that they had sufficient ma
terial to warrant not only indictment
and prosecution, but conviction. The
methods Heney brought into play in
the land fraud cases and which Burns
displayed during the Dimmick trial.
have been employed in the present in
stance. Heney refrained from accusing
Senator Mitchell until he had positive
proof of his guilt and Burns did not
fasten the mint robbery upon Dimmick
until he had evidence which was strong
enough to convince a jury.
BURNS INVESTIGATIONS.
: 1t is understood that up to a month
ago Burns evidence was incomplete in
regard to graft in San Francisco. 1t
led UP to certain point and there en-
countered a stone wall which seemed
insurmountable. 1t was at this time
that Frank Maestretti and Ruef had
their quarrel which resulted in a part
ing of their political paths Police
Commissioner Reagan had about this
time addressed his famous latter to
Mayor Schmitz. Burns saw the chance
and after cooperating with Heney and
being assisted by prominent citizens
of San Francisco, overtures were made
to the two accommodated members
of the administration forces.
About two weeks ago Maestretti was
in conference with Heney and Burns
at an Office in the burned district and
there the entire situation was gone
over. Maestretti was given assurance
that any evidence which he might sup
ply would work only to his advantage.
When this was made clear to him he
proceeded to lift the veil which has
screened the inner workings of the
administration. Maestretti had pre-
viously threatened Ruef with reprisals
for his, dismissal from the Board of
Public Works, and it is said that his
statement TO Heney and Burns con-
tanned even more than they had looked
for.
1t is understood that Heney and
Burns also placed themselves in touch
with Thomas Reagan and learned from