The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-11-16
SAMPLES OF
|. RUFF AND SCHMITZ
EyTORTION
THE KIND OF THING FOR WHICH
THEY WE'RE INDICTED BY THE
GRAND JURY.

The following from the Examiner
seems to be the line of testimony upon
which Mayor Schmitz and Abe Reuf
were indicted by the San Francisco
grand jury yesterday as reported by
the Associated Press:
SAN FRANCISCO, November g.
I'VE realized that it was robbery, but
what could we do? Resistance was
useless. Had we opposed we would
have been forced out of business. The
circumstances showed us what our
course would have to be-"
That is the expression of Joseph
Malfanti, one of the French restaurant
keepers from whom Abe Reuf is al
legged to have collected legal fees to
the amount Of several thousand dollars
when the police yere threatening to
act adversely to the restaurant men
i'm February, 1908. Immediately upon
Malfantrs retaining Reuf as attorney
the situation became more favorable
and the ultimate result was that the
Police Commission made a ruling that
ended the trouble.
1t was at this time that Police Com
missioner Hutton came into promi-
nence through his connection with the
case.
Malfanti, who was formerly one Of
the proprietors of Delmonico's, said
yesterday:
GAS recently as last March I paid
Abe Reuf a fee for legal services. That
was but the second installment of the
80, +;,o Zoo +bo ,+bar hole of which wa c
turned over to Reuf twelve months be-
| fore. That was the understanding
made between the restaurant owners
and the attorney when he undertook
to secure the passage of a favorable
ruling"
| Malfanti after the fire sold his inter-
est in the restaurant, but it was while
he was connected with it that belmont
cos together with four other large
French restaurants, secured the SER
vices of Abe Reuf. The fee they paid
was several thousand dollars, he says
but it was worth it. Through Reuf
Malfani declares restaurant keeper:
were permitted to have furnished
apartments on the upper floors of theil
buildings. Malfani continued:
eve did not go to Ruef until we hat
tried all other means unsuccessfully
We appealed to the Mayor, who refer
red us to the Police Commission. w,
went around from pillar 40 post with
out securing the slightest satisfaction
Then it was that we decided that tn
wisest course for us to follow would b
to secure the services of Abraham
Ruef.
RUFF LOOKED FOR SUCCESS.
1--WE went to him, that is, the pro
prietors of Marchand's, the Bay State
the new Poodle Dog, the Pup and our
selves. We explained the situation t
RueL He said, Gentlemen, will tax
charge of your case. My fee will b
so many thousand dollars. I will do a
I can for you and feel confident of sue
cess. The fee will be payable one-hal
upon the passage of the measure yo
desire, and the remainder at the exp
ration of a year, after the ruling ha
become effective"
what could we restauranteurs do
We had TO alternative. While we RI
allied that it was highway robbery "
could not complain, and we had n
means of redress. 1t would have bee
as foolish for us to resist as for a ma
to try to fight footpad who has hi
covered with a gun. There was no &C
ercion used by Ruef, not even was
suggested by him or by a represent
tive of his that it would be we'll for l
to retain him. The circumstances then
selves pointed out to us what Wa
necessary. If We wished to continI
in business we realized we would hay
to go to the man who controlled II
situation. It would have been an cas-
, matter to force us out of business
there are many ways to do that.
1T was only that realized what We
best for me that induced me to pu
chase supplies from the Hilbert Me
camille Company. 1 was never al
preached but once, when one of Il
firm suggested that they would like
U better if we give them more of OF
trade To this I replied that l won
do so gradually.
4 SCHMITZ A GOOD SPENDER.
Y THE Hilbert boys, Ruef and MAJ