The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-01
COILS TIGHTEN ABOUT RUEF.
HENCHMEN AGREE T6 TELL ALL
IN RETURN FOR PARDON.

Men sent 20 Prison for stufnnw Ballot BOX
for Rucf Freed 20 Go Before Grand
Jury-Ruef and His Police Chief Again
Indicted for Conspiracy and Perjury.
SAN FRANcrsCo, Nov. @.-The indictment
Of Chief OF Police Oman to-day for perjury
and Of Oman and Abe Ruef for conspiracy
were not 30 important In the line Of earth-
ing graft as the release from San Quentin
prison to-day Of Adolph Steffens and Charles
Wyman, two ballot box suffers who were
convicted Of election frauds in the pri-
MARES which preceded the last municipal
election.
These men were pardoned at the inter
cession Of Rudolph Spreckels and Francis J.
Heney, who had, no doubt, got full state
ments from them a. the price OF their
liberty.
Wyman and Stete MS were very sore over
the luke warm defence made for them by
Ruet's lawyers. They said they had been
railroaded to prison, although the work
Of stuf1ng the ballot boxes was done under
orders of Frank Mae stretti, who was then
the closest friend of the Mayor and Ruef.
Maestretti has now been kicked out OF
Office and Is sore. His testimony with that
of Wyman and Steffens would make out a
conclusive case against Boss Ruef and Mayor
oCLA1uAbL, hhh1 I - pICJty PldAl bLhdb AohCy
and Burns have secured promises from
these three men to tell the Grand Jury
what they know Of this disgraoeful ballot
box stufing, by which Ruef secured control
OF the local Republican machine and thus
was able to return Schmitz to office.
The Indictments against Oman and Ruef
grew out Of testimony In regard 70 the
notorious disorderly house at 72 Pacific
street, which was maintained by A. Andrieu
and his partner.
week that he knew nothing about the dis
orderly house at T2 Pacific street. soon
after he left the room Capt. Martin testified
that he nae reported on the character OF
this house to Chief Oman and that Oman
knew 1t was an immoral resort Of the lowest
The two indictments for conspiracy
against Oman and Ruef were returned
on the testimony Of Andrieu and Dick
Creighton that $3.50 a week hush money
was paid to the Chief OF Police and Ruef
for protection.
Andrieu and Creighton both testified
In detail. Andrieu told OF building the
disorderly house, getting a liquor license
and arranging with u and Oman for
the protection OF the place. The books
Of the place were introduced as evidence.
They show that ever since the opening
there have been weekly payments OF s24o
to some one, and not properly accounted
for on the books. The city official who re.
ClNCO III hlNO RAOOCSbiOA UNI "o' IA
to be Oman
The cashier and bookkeeper Of the Pacific
street resort, j.. G.. Harris, told the Grand
Jury he had paid the s240 in question every
week to Dick" Creighton, poolroom pro-
prietor and gambler, who is one OF the
partners in the dive.
Chief Oman was asked to exp lain why
he had closed the Pacific street resort while
he has permitted the jackson street dive
to remain open. ne was also asked IN
weekly tribute. 1t is understood his re-
plies to these questions resulted in his in
dictment for perjury.
IL is understood that Creighton's testi-
mony that he gave money to Oman and Ruef
for protection is What induced the Grand
Jury TO return indictments for conspiracy.
Another indictment for conspiracy will
probably be returned next week against
Ruef and Oman In connection with the
Municipal Crib, in Jackson street. Billy
Finnigan, one of Ruef's favorite bench.
men, testified to-day in regard TO his deali
ings with Ruef about that resort. He was
questioned mercilessly by Heney, and
though he tried to shield Ruef and Oman
he was forced to admit many damaging
facts. He came out of the Grand Jury room
almost in a state of collapse.
IL is understood that Heney warned him
plainly that Secret Service Agent Burns
made the weekly payments to Ruef and
that the interest in the resort held in the
name Of Joseph Alexander really belongs
to Ruef. Burns has made a searching in
VestiRation into the mysterious Joseph
Alexander and is convinced that the man
is a myth.
SACRAM ENTo, Cal, Nov. SO.-On the
rogue of Assistant District Attorney
Heney of San Francisco, Gov. Pardee has
pardoned Adolph Steffens and Charles
Wyman, the ballot box suffers.
Steffens and Wyman were sentenced to
five years Imprisonment for stuffing ballot
boxes at local primaries held a short time
before the last election Of Mayor Schmitz.
Through result of this primary election
Abe Ruef got control OF the county Repub-
lican convention. Charges were made that
Steffens and Wyman, who were acting as
election officers, had stuffed ballot boxes in
favor of certain delegates. They were tried
before Judge Lawlor, convicted and sent
enced to the penitentiary,
Gov. Pardee said pardons had been
issued at the request OF Rudolph Spreckels,
Francis j. Heney and William j. Burns,
who represented to him that such action
would further the interests of justice and the
public good. IL is understood that these
men nave promised in consideration Of
the pardon TO give full testimony in regard
TO Wholesale ballot box stuffing in which
Maestrett acted for Ruef and Schmitz.