Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-27
RUFF PUTS UP A
STUBBORN FIGHT
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 26.-After q
day of tremendous excitement District
Attorney Langdon, who was last night
suspended from Office by Acting Mayor
Gallagher, was apparently in a VIC
torious position and had gained a tenn
porary advantage over the city Of
ficials and politicians whom he has
announced he Intended to have indicted
for felonies and misdemeanors.
Almost at daybreak this morning
attorneys representing Langdon ap-
peared at the residence of Superior
Judge Seawell and obtained an order
temporarily restraining political lead
er Abraham Ruef, whom the acting
mayor appointed to succeed Langdon,
from interfering with the officials or
affairs of the district attorneys office.
Justice Seawell set the case for hear
ing one week from today. The restrain
ing order was served on Ruef and the
board of supervisors at an early hour,
and Langdon, with his assistant,
Frances ]. Heney, We're not disturbed
in their official capacity.
The excitement of the day came
with the proceedings this afternoon in
the court of Superior Judge Thomas F.
Graham, where the nineteenth and
final member of the grand jury was
chosen and where it was expected that
the court would settle the question of
recognition of either Langdon or Ruef
as district attorney.
Attempt to Search Heney
When the desired juror had been ac-
cepted Heney arose and made objec-
ton to the actions of deputy sheriff
who had several times attempted to
search him.
Ruef said that the deputy was act
ing under his instructions, it being
Ruef's belief that Heney was armed.
The court warned the deputy to cease
annoying Mr. Heney.
Then came the question of recogni-
tion. Ruef attempted to address the
Judge as IAN officer of the court" but
Heney objected to Ruef assuming such
right
The silence of the court room intensi-
fed, for here it was expected that the
fate of Heney or Ruef was to be de-
cided, but Judge Graham declined to
pass upon the issue, saying that he
would not at that time settle the dis
pute nor recognize any one as an Of
ficer of the court. He refused to hear
any further arguments on the subject.
Ruef. however, succeeded in obtain
ing permission to speak as an attorney
at the bar and declared that he wished
to proceed with an examination into
the qualifications of certain grand
jurymen.
Heney interrupted, saying that the
first thing he intended to present TO
the grand jury was evidence support
ing charges of felony and miSdemean-
or against Ruef. At this juncture
another communication came from
Attorney General Webb, who declared
that the court should not permit such
statements to be made before the
grand jury which was present, as 1t
might disqualify them, and he avered
that it was possibility that they had
already been disqualified
Orders Jury Dismissed
Webb then asserted that he intended
to assume charge of the affairs now
before the court. Judge Graham or
dered the jury dismissed until Monday
morning and IIeney strongly protested
agoinst the order, saying that Mr.
Langdon knew what matters would
be presented 10 lHS jury III It's HIsl
hour and that time would now be
given to bribe certain witnesses and
get them out of the country. Henry
Ach, acting as attorney, for Ruef, Of
fered to meet the attorney general and
Heney so that the affair might be pre-
pared for submission to the supreme
court, but Heney refused, saying that
1t was his rule never to confer with
men about to be accused or their at
torneys Court then adjourned until
Monday,
During all these proceedings and for
an hour earlier a crowd Of about three
thousand people were assembled, Be-
fore court opened the crowd had
packed the court room and corridors