Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-04
STORY OF GRAFT
IN SAN FRANCISCO
United Railroads Officials Are
Summoned Before Grand
Jury to Tell 1t.
RUFF AND SCHMlTz INVOLVED.
II is said That Between Them They
Got over Mt II Million DollhrN-
Supervisors Got Various sums

san Francisco. May 3.--The appear
nnce Of President Patrick Calhoun and
General Manager Thornwen Mutually
tolIing up the long flight OF stairs lead
Ing to the grand jury chamber Oh the
top floor of Native Sons hail, this af-
ternoon was a long lookedfor signal that
the iuquisitorlal board had reached
its promised investigation Of the munic-
ipal bribery charges against the United
railroads President Calhoun and Man
ager Mutually were detained in the
grand jury room for moment or two.
When they reappeared Mr.. calhoun
said in answer to many questions
II have nothing 60 say at this time
When | have u statement TO make 10
The public / shall put it IN writing
From Dist. Atty LanBdon u was
learned that Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Null
lally, In turn, We're informed briefly by
Asst Dist. Atty. Heney that they were
summoned To give testimony az to the
alleged bribery of supervisors and 9th
ere by which II IL claimed the United
railroads obtained IT'S overhead
trolley privileges IN san Francisco, that
they were warned that whatever testi-
inony they might give might be used
they were informed that they had the
right 10 refuse to testify on the one
ground only. namely that 10 TESTIFY
might tend Ia ncrimlnate themselves
and render them liable TO criminal pros
ecution; and that thercupon each re-
fused To testify at ALL
we We're then very careful added
Mr.. Langdon. mot 10 put any pues-
lions to Them
Asked If he meant that this refrain
ment was for the purpose of leaving the
field free for the indictment Of the
president and the general manager, the
district attorney replied.
You may say that 1t was very sig
nificant.'
Proceeding on the working basis Of
the confessions before the grand jury
of IL supervisors (Which became public
ms official records recently, 1t Is the
announced theory Of the prosecution
THAT the United railroads expended
s750,000 in bribery for the purpose
named in the following manner: In
cash, to each OF the Is supervisors,
$4,000; TO Supervisor Wilson, $4,000, to
Supervisor Gallagher $4,000. cash to-
tal of ss5,000 In bonds of the United
railroads. to Abraham Ruef and Mayor
Schmitz. $685. 900, and grand total Of
three-quarters of a million.
According TO a further statement
from the prosecution, II expects 10
show that. in order to avoid future
suspicion these bonds We're not issued
IN the names of Ruef and Sohmitz, but
In the names of other persons, and
that they were then converted into
cash by Ruef and Schmitz through the
house OF Charles Sutro d Co. of this
city, Fred Hilbert, friend OF
Schmitz, acting as messenger between
the offices OF Schmita and Sutro.
Charles Sutro was one of the wit
nesses called before the grand jury
today Also was Charles HolbrOok
senior member of the wholesale gro
Gerry firm of Holbrook, Merrill x Stet-
son, and chairman of the board of di-
rectors of the United railroads. Mr.
Holbrook who has been for many
years staunch figure In the business
circles of the city. was asked many
questions by asst Dist. Atty. Honey
to determine what, II anything. he
knew Of the disbursement of the
sT50.000 alleged to have been paid
out In brides. He satisfied the jury
that Notwithstanding his office of
chairman of the board of directors, he
was ignorant Of any such dealing
At the conclusion OF the session DIST.
Atty. Langdon made this statement
THE Investigation of the United
railroads s In fun swing. II VIII be
pushed vigorously to a conclusion. You
may expect definite results very soon.
MIR. Calhoun SAID tonight IN ne
half of MIR Mutually and himself
"When called before the grand jury
this afternoon and Informed that II
had under investigation the alleged
bribery of public officials by the
Emitted railroads, We declined 10 be
sworn. and in order that our action
may not be misconstrued, ! call your
attention to these facts
For months past the public prints
have been full Of charges traceable
to certain persons connected with the
prosecution that they had positive
evidence that the United railroads had
spent not less than Stj0,o00 In brih-
ing the officials OF this city. ! have
repeatedly stated that neither | non
the United railroads, nor any official
Of the United railroads had brihed
amy one. authorized any bribery, knew
Of any bribery o. approved of any
bribery This statement now fully
roaffirm II rs not for us nor any
officer of our company TO disproVc
these grave charges II rs for those
making them 20 prove them, We do
not now care 20 discuss their motives
We know that they cannot produce
any truthful evidence conurctu% us
or any officer of the United railroads
with this alleged Grim"
"Wc relied in declining io hr
sworn upon the broad constitutional
right of every American citizens inat
p defendant cannot Doe called ae n
witness ana upon thr Justice r1iruass
and common sense of the grand jury
"a whom "" lull, tor complete yluli-
cation without offering one W1uu boo