Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-11-01
ATTORNEYS CLASH
San Francisco Stirred by the At
tempt to Remove the Dis
trict Attorney.
THE HEARING POSTPONED
Judge Seawell Refuses to Recos-
uise Either OF Contestants ms n
Court Ohicer--Large Crowd
Awaited Decision.

Awaited Decision.
San Francisco, Oct. 27.-After ;
day OF tremendous excitement Dis
trict Attorney Langdon, who wal
Thursday night suspended from Of
flee by Acting Mayor Gallagher, was
apparently in victorious position
and had gained temporary advant
age over the city officials and poll
ticians, whom he had announced he
had intended to have indicted for fel
onies and misdemeanors.
Almost at daybreak Friday morning
attorneys Representing Langdon ap
peared at the residence OF Superior
Judge Seawell and obtained an order
temporarily restraining political lead
err Abraham Ruef, whom the acting
mayor appointed to succeed Lang
don, from interfering with the Off
cials or affairs Of the district attor'
ney's office.
Judge Seawell set the case for
hearing one week from Friday. The
restraining order was served on Ruei
and the board Of supervisors at an
early hour, and Langdon, with his as
sistant, Francis ]. Heney, were not
disturbed in their official capacity.
The excitement of the day came
with the proceedings Friday after
noon in the court of Superior Judge
Thomas F. Graham, where the 18th
and final member of the new grand
jury was chosen and where 1t was ex'
pected that the court would settle the
question Of recognition of either
Langdon or Ruef as district attorney
Then came the question Of recogni.
ton. 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 In
tensified, for here it was expected
that the fate of Heney or Ruef was
to be decided, but Judge Graham de-
cllned to pass upon the issue, saying
that he would not at that time settle
the dispute, nor recognize any one as
an officer of the court. He refused
to hear any further argument on the
subject.
Ruef, however, succeeded In obtain
ing permission to speak as an attor'
ney at the bar and declared that he
wished to proceed with an examina'
ton into the qualifications Of certain
grand jurymen. Heney interrupted,
saying that the first thing he intend
ed to present to the grand jury was
evidence supporting ccharges Of Eel
ony and misdemeanor against Ruef
At this juncture another objection
came from U. s. Webb, attorney gen
eral for the state, 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 av-
erred that there was possibility
that they had already been disquali-
fled.
Webb then asserted that he intend
ed to assume charge Of the matters
now before the court. Judge Ora
ham ordered the grand jury dis
missed until Monday morning and
Heney strongly protested against this
order, saying that Mr.. Langdon knew
what. ruatters would be presented to
the jury in It's first hour and that
time would be given to bride certain
witnesses and get them out out Of
the country.
During all these proceedings and
for an hour earlier crowd Of about
5000 persons were assembled. Be
fore court opened the crowd had
packed the court room and corridors
and a big squad Of police was sum
moned to eject them.
A throng Of 1000 persons remained
on the streets outside patiently and
in an orderly manner awaited the re-
suit of the hearing within. When
Langdon and Heney emerged they
were heartily cheered. A few min
utes later Ruef appeared and was
booted and Missed. As he was max
ing his way to his automobile man
who had been elected from the court
room attempted to strike the political
leader, but the police seized him.
Ruef was attended in court and after
ward by two detectives from the po-
lice department.