The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-17
RUEF MAKES GOOD.
Tells How 100000 of Bribe Money
Was Distributed

San Francisco, May 17.-Abraham
Ruef today made good his declaration
that he would, foEo ,riag his change
of plea to guilty in sfhe extortion case
against him, turn states evidence and
assist the bribery graft prosecution
in its campaign against municipal cor
ruptiOn.
Obeying a subpoena from the grand
jury served upon him at the Fillmore
street prison house Ruef went in. the
charge of Special Agent Burns, EliSor
Biggy and another guard to the grand
jury chamber in Native Sons hail.
where he took the witness stand and
submitted to an examination that last
ed two hours.
When the ordeal was over he called
the newspaper men around him and
said that he had promised the grand
jury to divulge nothing. District At
tOrney Langdon and Assistant District
Attorney Henley refused to make any
statement. From Special Agent Burns
it was learned that the only matter in
which Ruef was questioned was the
alleged bribing of Mayor Schmitz and
eighteen supervisors by the United
Railroads to grant to that corporation
a change in its franchise allowing the
electrifying of its ESQ miles of street
railway system in this city.
If Burns understanding of Ruef's
testimony is correct the fallen boss told
the grand jury that President Patrick
Calhoun, Assistant President Thorn
we'll Mullalley, Chief Counsel Tierey
L. Ford and Assistant Counsel William
NJ. Abbott of the United Railroads
paid or caused to be paid the sum of
100000 for the privilege named; that
$4,000 of this amount was Ruefs
fee" that $4,000 went into the
pocket of Mayor Schlnitz. and that the
remaining $4,000 was handed to the
eighteen supervisors, sixteen of them
receiving $4,000 each, another de-
manding and getting $4,000. and
Chairman Gallagher of the finance
committee being paid $4,000 for act
ing as go-between.
After the examination of Ruef was
concluded the statement was made,
but not officially confirmed, that in
dictments had been voted against
four high officials of the United Rail-
roads and Schmitz, as predicted by an
officer two weeks ago.
Seen in his prison room, Ruef said,
regarding the ordeal through which
he had passed:
grand Jury with a consideration that
touched me deeply When I entered
the room, every one of the seventeen
jurors present arose and took me by
the hand When I finished my testi-
monv every one of them got up and
bade me good night with a hearty
handclasp. No disposition was dis
played to grill me. The trying task
made as easy by kindness as 1 could
have hoped. 1 do not know when I
shall be again called to testify. I
shall be ready.
'The report published locally that
it is my intention to tell everything I
know. no matter who may be dragged
down into shame and disgrace, is un-
true and unwarranted. I stand by the
statement made that my purpose is to
expose only those who entered know
ingIy and willingly into corruption
Il must not discuss the United Rail-
roads. for L am bound to silence by my
promise to the grand jury. But you
will recall that l told you, after my
sitv for the offering of bribe money
by the United Railroads; that the
hermit desired by that corporation
would have been granted as a matter
Of course by the supervisors if it had
been merely and customarily asked
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