Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-19
MAYOR SCHMlTz
READY FOR TRIAL
The Announcement Apparently
Was a Surprise to Abra-
ham Ruef.
sPREcKELS AGAIN ON STAND.
Was Anxious That United Ry, Did
Not Control San Francisco
Streets.

San Francisco. Dec. l7.--Mayor Eu-
gene L. schmitz annoruced in court
today that he was through with de-
lays and was ready for trial. This
statement came apparently as SUR
prise to Abraham Ruef, who promptly
leaned over and conferred in whispers
With his attorneys.
Rudolph Spreckeis was again on the
stand today. Atty. Ach questioned him
at length concerning a street car sys-
tenn that Mr.. sprekels and his father
contemplated building, The witnes.
stated that he considered building
road, because, as citizen Of San Fran
cisco, ne objected to seeing the streets
OF the city turned over to the United
railroads or any other corporation or
person.
Il wanted to prevent the city giving
away a valuable franchise" said he.
we PLANNED TO build an opposition sys-
tenn TO block the scheme
Ach attempted TO get Spreckels 20
admit that he was interested In a water
project.
Did not You and your father, Claus
Sprekels, call on the mayor and dis
euss water system, and did not the
mayor tell you that because OF your
sale OF the Valley railroad, he doubted
j the SUPERVISORS would grant your
franchise?' asked Ach.
No wac the answer THE mayor
made no such statement We had no
thought OF asking for a water fran
chise'
Ach then tried to find out who re-
tanned Hiram johnson to assist the
Prosecution, but objections we're inter-
posed ana sustained. Numerous cues
lions concerning Spreckels relations
with Secret Service Detective Burns
also failed TO elicit information.
When the Schmitz end Of the case
arose, a movement similar to that made
BY Henry Ach yesterday was made by
Atty. j. G. Campbell on behalf of May
or Schmitz. He desired, he said. 10
lrove that Heney was guilty of i'm
proper conduct On behalf OF Schmitz
te entered an exception 20 the ruling
that the indictment could be attacked
only on statutory grounds. Rudolph
Spreckels was recalled TO the stand.
u guaranteed 100000" he stated,
and attempted to raise a sum by pub
lie subscription"
He was asked several questions. to
which objections were offered and sus-
talned, whereupon Atty. Campbell an
nounced that the motion was submitted
and that his client was ready for trial.
is 10 understood now that the trial
or these defendants Is TO be separator
asked Heney.
Yes answered Atty. John ]. Bar
reit.
After Rudolph Sprec<els was excused
james ID. Phelan was called for but
| was not present In the courtroom, and
1t was found that the subpoena had not
| yet been served on him and his name
was passed over for the present.
| Robert ID. Duke was next called To
the stand. He testified that from jan
uary until October he was a deputy
liz the district attorneys office. Henry
| Ach then attempted TO elicit that Duke
had resigned from the office to make
room for Heney; that he still continued
to draw his salary and that he will re-
sumo his position when the investiga.
| ton Is over. Judge Dunno sustained
Hiram Johnson's objections TO all these
| questions. and Duke left the stand
without giving any further testimony.
Fremont Older, managing editor OF
the San Francisco Bul!rOn, was placed
on the stand THIS aftt .loon He was
asked u lumber Of questions by the de-
| Tense as to the manner In which HIS
| paper md handled the news of the
grand Jury Indictments and the trials
growing cut OF them, but the prosecu-
ton objected to the answering OF the
| questions and the objections were all
sustained by the court.