The San Francisco call., 1906-12-18
Ubiquitous Scheme Of
Boss Is Revealed
by Spreckels

Scnmitz and Ruef called Rudolph
Spreckels TO the witness stand
yesterday in Judge Dunne's court
they imagined that they had an un-
willing witness, whose refusal TO an
swer their questions could be con-
strued TO their benefit. But when
Spreckels frankly admitted that he had
guaranteed the 500. 600 fund and went
on TO explain fully the facts which had
Jed him 10 do so, all five of the counsel
for the Mayor and his broker were on
their feet loudly protesting objections
TO the sensational and damaging evil
6ence which their witness was ready
10 give and did give.
"My object in guaranteeing this
fund" SpreckeIs testified after the
court had ruled that the witness might
40 on with his explanation, "was "a
ascertain the truth or falsity of the
charges OF graft which had been gen.
eraIIy made. i had observed some OF
these things myself.
s.tfr Ruef himself had come to me on
two occasions and intimated that lac
WAS in n position 10 do certain things
He called on me at the time of the
issue of the city bonds and asked nae
10 organize a syndicate TO buy the
bends. and INSURED me that this syndi-
cate would be given the bonds. asked
how he could make such promise
VIXEN the bonds would have to be Of
fered in open market for bids.
RUEF's BASE OFFER
g II would be an easy thing TO call
a strike OF the street-car SYSTEM hs
replied. and then we would like TO see
what capitalists other than those who
were in the syndicate would bid
"At another time he came 10 my Office
at 42I Market street in company with
Charles SutrO. Nr. SutrO left, and ther
Hr. Ruef proposed TO me that | make
him the attorney for the san Francisco
Gas and Electric Company. He said;
- have legal ability, and l could be
of service Otherwise
Ruef. whose manner throughout the
hearing. has been one of relaxation and
apparent cheerfulness. suddenly leaned
forward in his chair. His gaze was
fixed on the witness as he uttered this
direct and inculpating testimony. The
face OF the boss paled and the muscles
in his throat twitched as he heard the
words.
Afterward Ruef admitted the truth
Of what Spreckels had said. making eX-
ception only to his threat to tie up the
city with street-car strike. AS tc
his offer TO become attorney for the
gas company he claimed that il was
merely a Joke which he never intended
10 have taken seriously.
Spreckels had succeeded District At
torney LangdOn on the stand. Lang
don's testimony was greatly curtaileo
by objections interposed by Hiram
Johnson and Invariably sustained by
the court. Judge Dunno was convinced
that the defense was merely conduct
ing a fishing expedition. having re-
fused TO file affidavits setting forth
what it expected 10 prove. But
Spreckels took the bit in his teeth, and
disregarding the objection made by
Hiram Johnson. went on to explain why
he had guaranteed the fund.
Then suddenly there was a commo-
tion ia the courtroom. When the wit
ness ignored the objections of johnson
and proceeded with his startling testi-
mony the attoTneys for the defense
who were getting more from their wit
ness than they had looked for began
in wild alarm 10 make objections. But
the court oVerruled them and Spreckels
continued