The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-22
Are Ordered to Shoot If He
Attempts to Escape.
is SHUT IN HIS ROOM.
Not Even Permitted to Walk in
the Corridor.
Grand Jury Has Adjourned I'm
til Saturday Morning.

San Francisco, March 22.-The SUI
preme court today on the request of the
attorneys of Abe Ruef the central fig
ure in the municipal graft Investigate IN
dismissed Ruef's application for a writ
| of habeas corpus to transfer him from
| the custody of Ellison w. J. Buggy to
that of Sheriff O'Neill and to be taken
| from the St. Francis hotel to the county
jail.
-Ruef." said Buggy, upon looking UP
| authorities, came to the conclusion that
! the supreme court would sustain the ac-
ton of Superior Judge Dunno in ap-
| pointing All elisor and forestalled any
adverse decision by having the writ
dismissed
The dismissal of the writ was to sonc
extent a disappointment to the prose-
cution, who hoped that the supreme
court would hand down a decision
which would clearly define the duties
and authority of an elisor, some points
of which now are matter of cOnten-
ton.
Owing to the dismissal of the writ by
the supreme court, the question of
place of detention for Ruef has again
arisen. Distrusting the police and the
sheriff, Ruef has been kept in the ST.
Francis hotel pending the decision of
the supreme court as to the legality of
his detention in the custody of Ellison
Buggy. Now that this matter has bean
dropped by Ruef and his attorneys, the
prosecution are casting about to f1iid
another place of detention for Ruef. 1t
has been decided to take an apaI tmcnt
or a private house.
Burns and Biggy examined a num-
Der of places today and Ruef Will be
taken from the st. Francis within
few days: Perhaps no prisoner in the
United States today is SO closely
guarded as is Ruef.
Burns has placed six of his picked
men under Biggy to guard him. AT
night Biggy sleeps in the same room
with Ruef, two guards are on duty in
the room with their eyes constantly
on Ruef, one man stands guard in the |
hall in front of the door, and one mar
is on duty outside of the one window |
in the room.
In the event of an attempt of res
cue or escape the men have orders to |
kill Ruef. Owing to the entertainment |
of fears that he might try to escape |
or an attempt be made to rescue him, |
several privileges which have been
enjoyed by Ruef were cut off today.
Heretofore Ruef has taken his daily |
exercise in the narrow hall of the no.
tel, pacing back and forth in front of
his room in sight of the two guards.
This was denied him today and here
after he will not be permitted to leave
his room. The question of examining
his mail and all packages send to him,
which have been delivered to him I'M
touched is under consideration by
Burns and Buggy.
seen today emphatically denied that
they had made confessions to the
grand jury.
Telephone Officials Called.
The grand jury resumed it's work of
Investigating the alleged wholesale
graft and corruption in the municipal
affairs of this city and after an all-day
session with a brief recess at noon, adj
journed last night until IL o'clock Sat
1rday morning.
entire day being taken up in probing
further into the alleged bribing of the
by the telephone companies.
IN which twenty-Seven indictments
nave already been based.
The grand jury made a determined
Effort to trace the $4,000 alleged to have
been paid by T. " Halsey, representing I
he Pacific State Telephone and Tele- !
graph company to ten of the super |
yisors to prevent the granting of a
franchise to the Home Telephone COM |
,any.
Almost all of the officials and books 8
# the Pacific States company were
aiken before the grand jury by Secret | {
service Agent Burns. Among the Off g
ials examined were Henry T. Scott,
resident; E. ]. thinner, formerly audi {
or but now vice president; B. G. Car !
OIL general agent; John S. Curran, adj !
"A. d
Hall. secretary to T. v. Halsey, the for
ner general agent; T. S. Scherwin, au- l
itor and Frank D. Drumm, a director 2
f the company. =
Director Drumm emerged from the q
rand jury room somewhat nervous and +
xcited, and assaulted a newspaper pho =
ographer who attempted to take his h
icture. President Scott was in the I
1rv room but a few minutes, and upon a
oming out declined to discuss the tes-
mony given, beyond that he had AN t
wered all questions put to him. Il
Auditor Sherwin said he was re- s
uested TO explain the bookkeeping C
lethods Of the company; asked e
bout the various amounts the books o
hitch were paid to Halsey, but declared
nat the accounts showed no such sum c
$ $4,000 or any considerable part as z
aving been used or paid to the for- s
Ter general agent.
Hall. under the Interrogation of He l;
ey, explained his duties as secretary
, Halsey, which consisted, he said of