The San Francisco call., 1906-11-17
Proprietor Of Bay
State Causes
Indictments
Former Attorney
Was Powerless
to Aid Him

1tdnc JuTH which proves thoroughly
and comprehensively that during the
period in which the French restaurants
were blackmailed by the administra-
ton landlord could not even get
hearing before the Police Commission
ers unless he had the benefit Of the
shrewd legal knowledge which only
Abe Ruef could possess. The services
of Ruef came high, but they were es-
Sential. and because they were so
singularly efficient the Grand Jury yes
terday voted to bring another indict-
ment against Ruef and Schmitz on
charge of extortion. This sixth charge
has to do with the securing from Max
Adler of the Bay State restaurant on
Stockton street fees amounting 10 S2lg5
for services in the restaurant cases.
The Indictment will be returned at
once.
Adler applied for a liquor license
both without and with the aid of Ruef.
Without the unouestioned but question
able skill Of the curly boss he could
do nothing Marcus Rosenthal- the at
torney who represented his interests
for twenty years. was unable 10 get
hearing before the Police Commission
ers. When he would rise to address
the board he would be interrupted.
The board suddenly became angelic in
its stand against t11e restaurants, said
Rosenthal in discussing the matter
RUEF~S BRAINS NECESSARY
The attorney realized that he was
hindering his clients interests by re-
naming in the case; he knew that but
one man could handle the delicate task
OF convincing the virtuous Police Com
missioners that French restaurants
were not plague spots in a city. So he
retired from the case. Adler engaged
Ruef at a fee three times as great as
a IL r. d.
lice Commissioners saw that they had
taken the wrong view Of the restaurant
question and granted Adler a license
TO sell liquor at the Bay State.
= On Wednesday Adler was before the
Grand Jury and testified that he was
unable TO secure a liquor license until
he engaged Ruef. He had paid his part
OF the big fee not TO Ruef directly, but
to Jean Lovpy, and only knew indirect
~. though positively. that Mayor
schmitz and Ruef had held him up
through the aid of their venal COM
mission. That testimony was not suf-
1cient in the minds Of the jurors to
warrant an Indictment; it remained for
Rosenthal to give his testimony before
the Grand Jury would decide 10 bring
another indictment against the boss
and the manilSin Mayor.
Before the Grand Jury on Wednes-
day Adler testified in substance that
until Ruef had become interested in
his case he was persona non grata
among the Commissioners
Did you pay Ruef the money per-
sonally2" was asked
No, replied Adler. L paid the
money TO the restaurant association;
sllT5 in January, 1906. and $1,000 a
year later
You did not come in personal con-
tact with Ruef or Schmitz2 -
PAID THE ASSOCIATION
No. that was not necessary. for 1
paid the money to the association, and
as soon as ] did that I got my license.
Previous to doing that my attorney.
Marcus Rosenthal, had told me that he
was powerless to help me before the
board, and said THAI 1 would have to
engage Ruef. My place, I thought, was
of a better class than the other places:
i was a lodging-house, and was con-
Quoted as well as a hotel. / had spent
a great deal of money in fixing it up.
$4,000 in all. The chandeliers cost
me sI25 apiece; I had spent $4,000 for
pianos. Those are just items of my ex-
pense. I would have been prevented
from carrying on my business If I had
not engaged Ruef and paid my quota
10 the fund"
To make sure that Adler's experience
Jury instructed Agent Burns to sub
pena Rosenthal, and yesterday the at
torney appeared before the jury and
was questioned by District Attorney
L.angdon, Assistant District Attorney
Heney and members Of the jury.
Rosenthars story was one of the
most convincing yet told in the rooms
IN Native Sons Hall. When Adler's
license for the Bay State restaurant
was taken away from him." said the
attorney after he had been sworn, Il
appeared before the Police Commis-
sioners and tried to secure it for him.
But I could not even get a hearing
When I would begin TO speak I would
be interrupted. The Commissioners ap-
piled the gag rule. Drinkhouse, Rea-
gan or Hutton would break in upon
me before I could say three words
Howell did not interrupt so much
never saw such an angelic body; you
would think its wings were about to
sprout
LICENSE COST HIM s2I75
I soon realized that my services
could never be of aid to Adler, so ]
withdrew I had been given to UNDER
stand that IL he, engaged Ruef he
could secure the license to sell liquor.
He did as l advised him. retained Ruef
and then he got the license. He paid
ILuEL tlltD lOI his SERVICES dl lndI
time That was in January, 1904, and
a year later he paid $1,000
What would you have charged for
similar services2' was asked by one of
the attorneys.
Il would have charged about $500
for appearing for one man before the
commission, answered the witness,
and II / took the cases of, say, five
Jointly. / would have charged about
$500 for all of them retaining fee
for one client for a year would have
been about $500 or 5000"
The jury saw that Adler had been
forced to pay dearly for Ruef and
Schmitz The jurors considered the
entire testimony given and when the
members adjourned last night it was
with the understanding that additional
indictments would be brought against
Ruef and Schmitz on extortion charges
on Tuesday
New York Excited Over