Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-05-23
.HE PLEADS GUILTY
Abraham Rusf, Dsthroned Dictator Of
San Francisco, Throws Him
Sclf on Mercy Of Court.
BIS SENTENCE DEFERRED
In etatemens He said Hls Health
and That Of HE Aged Par
ents Would Not stand
Going to Trial.

1
San Francisco, May 16.--Abrahal
Ruef, better known as Abe Ruef tn
acknowledged advisor Of Mayo
Bchmitz and once the recognized dict
tor Of municipal affairs In San Frar
CISCO. pleaded guilty to the charg
Of sxtortion In Judge DUNES depart
ment Of the superior court Wednes-
day. Sentence win be announced W
on him two weeks hence
After private conference with hi
four attorneys in Judge DUNES pri
vate chambers Wednesday forenoon
and after they had withdrawn from
his case because Of the resolution hi
had taken 10 change his plea and avoit
trial, Ruef to the utter astonisnmenl
Of the prosecution, arose In court and
announced In o dramatic address
that after long and earnest considera
ton he had determined to withdraw
his plea Of not guilty and enter a plea
Of guilty. He asked that the jury be
dismissed and the trial abandoned
Ruef read his statement from a
manuscript which he bad prepared -
the prtsence Of bis attorneys few
moments before Judge DUNES cham
bers opened. He showed in his voice
In the expression Of his face, In his
quiet and gestureless attitude. and by
the tears again and again that over
flowed his eyes, the great emotion
and utter humiliation he suffered. The
pathos Of the scene was communicated
to the crowd that thronged the court
room. Tears sprang to the eyes Of
veteran newspapermen who have been
lifelong acquaintances and whose pa
pers have conducted against him and
bis political associates long and bit
ter campaign for the publication Of
affairs. The accused mau
was several times all but overcome
BY emotion. When he reached the fin.
Il words Of his address-T desire tn
withdraw my plea Of not guilty and
inter the contrary plea"-his voice
vas sunk 10 whisper, but 80 intense
vas the silence that 1t reached to the
ar corners Of the room.
Though Abraham Ruef has formal
y declared himself to be guilty Of the
:harge on which he was about to be
.ried. he nevertheless proclaims his
He confesses that he Is |
yuilty Of having connived in the cor
upton in municipal affairs, but he |
leniee, with all the emphasis man
n his unhappy position can command,
hat be Is not guilty Of the crime
4 e1tortion charged against him. He
eclares that his sole motive In accus-
ng himself In open court was to
ave the lives Of those who are near
st and dearest to him, his aged father
nd mother. his maiden sister and a
iece.
Ruef made the following statement
|
j court.
This trial has become a threatening
anger to my health, both mental and
hysical am unable to bear the
rain any longer. The strain on those
earest and dearest to me is under
lining them. They are on the verge
collapse. Their lives hang In the
llance and must take some action"
Ruef, who was evidently laboring
ader great emotion, after pausing
moment continued:
II have occupied a prominent posi-
IN in this city. hope to remain here
ID this win be the place of my eter.
i sleep. Heretofore, have borne an ,
'nored name In my professional life.
iere has been no stain upon my 5
nor and until the present board of
pervisors was elected there was no !
I Of mine that could be Justly CEN
red. Nevertheless, owing to the as
ults Of the press l have been placed
a wrong light and have been bur. \
ned with q bad name. !
1T is true that in order to hold to- 4
Their the political machine which l
d built up with great difficulty, that 4
lid lower the high political idea that \
had hitherto upheld. Last night !
ached the conclusion that there q
ght still be an opportunity to make O
me effort to restore myself in the
bile favor and be q power for good. B
will do all that still lies In my pow o
TO help overthrow the system 0
Itch has made possible the terrible 3
Eruption Of political officials. To 0
this l will work even as the hum 4
,st citizen. Ny future career will
one Of integrity. hope that | can q
4 accomplish some good. d
am making the greatest sacrifice /,
It could befall q human being Of 4
; dIsposition-namely to acknowl-
ge my faults and mistakes to restore 4
'salf n. public favor. Duty calls me 4
ereeTer the path may lead. bat \
Mt the whole world 70 know that \
not guilty Of the charge made \
inst men In this instance. Never 4
less on account Of the reasons Z
ted, I withdraw my plea Of not gull 4
and enter a plea Of guilty.
San Francisco, Nay i7.-Abralan 4
- grhur.f,- r,,a. - -. 49,