The San Francisco call., 1906-11-09

is behind the man who controls the
giving of franchises on their own con-
fession has been known in the past to
influence jurymen by other means than
argument in open court Such knowl-
edge is Common property.
When Heney was asked last night if
he had discovered any such interfer-
ance he hesitated for moment and
then replied:
Well not enough to stop us
Two facts are evident in this con-
nection One, that. this Grand Jury is
one of the strongest which has been
drawn in this city since the charges of
graft have been feared. sThe other,
that the District, Attorneys Office is
at the present time well. equipped to
apprehend and frustrate any such a
move on the part sof the Nicodemus
sympathizers of Abraham Ruef.
With his men on the State Board of
Equalization and. on the Board of Rail
road Commissioners, fzuef has strong
arguments. to urge upon his more cul-
tured adherants. (.
II there is no unforeseen delay a
foreman Will be chosen for the Grand
Jury today and the inquisitorial body
Will at once give its attention to the
evidence to- be submitted. A climax
in the investigation cannot long be
the Grand Jury is ready to hear it.
Heney is satisfied with the jury and
so Is Ruef. 1t is, possible that an in
-dictment will be returned before many
hours have elapsed.
FRENCH RESTAURANT GRAFT.
1t is known that one of the first mat
ters to be submitted to the jury con-
Germs Ruefs connection with the
French restaurants. This is regarded
as one of the cases in which Ruef has
laid himself open to direct attack
Ruef has admitted that he accepted a
fee from the restaurants. In addition
to his testimony 1T will be necessary
only to prove that conspiracy ex-
listed The testimony of Thomas Rea-
gan will be important in this particu-
lar.
1t will be shown that the Mayors
crusade against the French restau-
rants was not in good faith. In fact
an effort Will be made to prove that
the crusade originated in the brain
of the boss. The Mayor suddenly came
to the conclusion that the restaurants
were immoral. The places, which had
inspired poets from afar, after an un-
molested existence OF several years
found themselves. unexpectedly under
the ban of the Mayor The Jackson
street resort was all right in the eyes
of Schmitz, but the French restau-
rants with their rooms overhead be-
came intolerabIe in the righteous sight
Of his Honor.
The avenue of attack was naturally
the Police Commission. The Commits
sioners were told that the places were
evil and should be suppressed. The
commission, therefore, decided that the
liquor licenses under which these re-
sorts operated should be revoked. A
so-ca1led raid was a necessary pre-
ir11ir1 1e.,-y. Tha- sroi -
made.
1t was at this pointAtha Ruef sud
denly entered the easel He appeared
as counsel for the restaurants. The
I Police Commissioners had been in
structed by the Mayor to heed the
words of Eminent Counsel and to
act with discretion Ruef suggested
/ that registers such as are used in
hotels be placed in the restaurants.
/ This 1t was urged, would make them
righteous in every respect. 1t was ac-
cordingly SO ordered Ruef pocketed
his fee Of s2S,000 and the incident was
declared closed. ~ MS
CHARGE TO BE CONSPIRACY.
| The charge against Ruef in this case
will be conspiracy to extort. 1t will
be alleged that the threat to revoke
the license was a mere subterfuge by
which Ruef could collect handsome
| fee. ~
To prove conspiracy, Reagan will tes-
tify that pressure was brought to bear
on him to- force him to act as the ad-
I ministration- desired. To this he OBJ
1 jected. Commissioner Hutton also re-
j fused to takesorders. Accordingly they
later lost their official heads.
i 1t Will be alleged tllat six French res
taurants were especially concerned.
/ Tortoni's refused to come through and
] Tortonis was closed UP. The Pup, in
which 1T has been charged Ruef owned
stock was let off.s The Bay State, the
Poodle Dog, Marchand's and Delmon-
ffco's, it will be alleged. furnished the
greater part of the $2S,o00 supplied to
! Ruef.
Ruef says that he acted for the
French restaurants against his will.
1 He says that the owners came to him
and requested. that he take the case,
1 but that he refused. 1t was at this
istage, he says. that the papers shouted
sgraft," and to show that he was not
afraid, he consented to act.
The other side of the story is that
Ruef conceived the whole thing, and
saw 1t through. The statute is very ex-
plicit as to conspiracy to extort. 1t is
claimed that the case Is fragrant one.
Heney in court has declared that one