The San Francisco call., 1907-06-20
SChmitz May
Be Placed in
Real Prison
Fourof Buggy 'sMen
Relieved of Duty
Near Ruef
Held Ready to Take
ConUict in Hand

The removal by Elisor Biggy of four
of the eight deputies who have been in
his employ as guards of Abe Ruef, the
fallen boss, in the white prison house
in Fillmore street, gave rise yesterday
to the rumor that an elisor is to be
appointed for Schmitz and that these
men, who have had experience and
proved themselves reliable in watching
over Ruef. are to be taken as the
nucleus of a guard for the mayor.
OF the four guards who were notified
that their services in caring for Ruef
would not be needed any longer one is
still retained by the prosecution, while
the other three could be recalled on
short notice If wanted. James Foley,
Daniel NJ. Mccarthy. c. NJ. Stanton and
William NJ Farrell are the four who
have been dropped from Biggy's force.
Foley has been transferred to other
work, but the other three are still un-
employed.
1t is well known that the prosecution
is not satisfied with the manner in
which Sheriff O'Neil has conduced his
charge of the convicted mayor and 1t
would be a simple matter to disqual-
ify him as was done in the case of
Ruef. Judge Dunno has openly de-
clared his lack of confidence in the
sheriff, and the laXity that has been
shown by O'Neil toward Schmitz has
raised the feeling of dissatisfaction to
a high point Schmitz has been ac-
corded the treatment of a hotel guest
rather than that of prisoner during
his Incarceration at the county Jail.
and his Imprisonment has, in fact,
amounted to nothing more than being
locked up every night. During the day
time he has spent hours away from
the jail in his automobile and no defin-
ite account has been given of his
whereabouts.
This alone has led to rumors that an
elisor might be demanded by the prose
cution, and the change in affairs at
Ruefs prison has strengthened the
suspicion that such step is to be
attempted by the prosecution.
The deputies who are left to watch
Ruef under Biggys direction are Major
Bean. Joseph c. ,Hensley, j. c. Mccarthy
and William j. Biggy Jr., son of the
elisor. Biggy stated yesterday that he
had determined upon the reduction in
the size of the staff without consulting
any one, feeling that smaller number
of guards would be adequate to take
care Of Ruef and that he should reduce
expenses as much as possible. 1t was
the force of guards would effect a
saving to the city in the expense bill
for Ruef's keeping of between $500 and
$500 a month in salaries and board
ttffff-T--5---
There has been no reason for the
change" said Biggy yesterday, except
that have more time now and 1 think
that the smaller force is adequate to
keep close guard over Ruef. Here
tofore l have had so many outside du-
ties to attend to that / haven't had
much time to stay at the house. Now
Ruef is in court at least a portion of
every day and must be taken for a
walk under the doctors orders. That
means that a part of the old force had
to sit idle for hours every day and
felt that ] should take this step to cut
down the expenses of keeping Ruef in
custody. l reduced the force without
consulting the court or any one else.
as I believe it is simply up to me to
decide how many are necessary to
maintain the guard.