New-York tribune., 1906-11-16
IND[CT MAYOR SCHMlTZ.
EXTORTION THE CHARGE.
Frisco Grand Jury Also Names
Boss" Ruef-FiUe Counts.

San Francisco Nov. 15.-The grand jury
turned five indictments to-day against Mayor
Schmitz and Abraham Ruef on charges of ex-
torton.
The first alleged crime was in connection with
the "Poodledog" Restaurant. and the indictment
recites that Ruef and Schmitz demanded money
from the proprietor Tony Banco. AS this de-
mand made, it is said. two occasions,
two indictments were returned. Extortion, said
to have been practised Edouard Marchand,
proprietor of Marchand's Restaurant. is the
basis OF two more indictments. a demand made
upon Joseph MaIfa1ti another restaurant man,
is the alleged offence on which the fifth ndct-
ment found.
The indictments were returned for the grand
jury by the foreman, B. P Oliver. Judge Mu-
rasky read the indictments and placed them
file. He then proceeded to fix the bail at $4,000
for each charge.
Assistant District Attorney Heney two weeks
ago in court promised that the first action taken
by the grand jury would be to accuse Abraham
Ruef of felony. Nothing was then said to indi
cate that Mayor Schmitz would be drawn into
the scandal. The indictment of Ruef was ex-
pected by the public but they were not prepared
for immediate action against the city's chief ex
ecutive, who is on the Atlantic Ocean re-
turning from a visit to Europe. For nearly two
wears the alleged Objectionable relations between
the French restaurants and the municipal ad-
rninistration have been a subject Of public de-
nunCiation.
These restaurants. which were all destroyed
by the April confagration, were frequently the
cause Of bitter attacks from the pulpit and the
press the accusations being made that they were
Immoral and a menace to the welfare of the
community. These restaurants were a comblna-
ton of eating and lodging and drinking houses
The agitation for their suppression two years
ago apparently reached city officers, and orders
were issued that they be deprived of license,
which would close them. The doors remained
locked for a short time. and then the restaurants
were permitted 10 reopen with some restrtc-
tons Soon the houses were again in full sway
along the old lines
Ncwspa pers charged that a fund had been COL
Iected amounting to thousands of dollars. and
that the money had been paid into official hands
10 lift the embargo. The accusations further
alleged that monthly tax of about $4,000 was
paid by the restaurants for protection. The
renewals of liquor licenses were granted by the
police commission. majority Of which was IN
accord with the administration Of Mayor
Schmitz
It has never directly been charged that Mayor
Schmttz was concerned with the so-called cor
ruption fund. but no hesitancy was used in con-
Meeting Ruef's name with the alleged Illegal
use of money Ruef, indeed. admitted that he
had received fees from the proprietors of the
rastarrants but declared that he acted merely
as attorney in promoting the interests Of his
clients, whose property rights had been tres
passed
and Schnltz on January 10 1904. extorted
S117O from Tony Blanco. of the Poodle Dog.
and on February g. 1904. they forced him to
give up 81 900 more. The third Indictment is
based on the alleged extortion of S1,1I5 from
the proprietOrs of Marchands restaurant. The
defendants are charged with demanding and
receiving on the same day 81. 175 from the pro-
prietors of the Demonico restaurant. 1t is
charged that on February they forced these
same men to yield 81 900 by threatening to take
away their liquor licenses.
Sheriff ONeill said that he would not serve
the five warrants on Ruef tonight as the
clerical work is so great that he cannot get
hon ont in q a lIn6 n
whether he will ask for the arrest of Mayor
Schmitz when he lands in New York or wait
until ne comes 10 California.
Reuf called at Judge Murasky's chambers this
evening and presented bonds in $50 600 guaran-
teed by the 442tna Security COMPANY. Judge
nerD1itted 70 go