davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
CampbeH's Final Speech
for Schmifz Kifrfofc
Bitterly Arraigns Ruef for
Testifying Against the
Accused Mayor

At 1905 o'clock al the morning ses-
sion ]. c. Campbell began his address
70 the Jury. concluding at minutes of
y. He said:
OF your honor please and gentlemen
Of the Jury I, too. ask that you give
conscientious, careful consideration to
this case. II is not my province q
could not If I would, and would not
if could to indulge in pyrotechnic
flights OF fancy.
you have been selected TO perform
the highest duty citizen is ever called
upon to .perform-to adjudicate be-
tween the law and the liberty of this
defendant; that liberty inviolate to
which all are entitled; that liberty
which can only be taken away from
person for violating the law and by
a Jury of his countrymen who had con-
sidered his case after every reason
able doubt had been precluded-
1T doesn't do to say that system
OF government is on trial You are
here to try this case and to have IL
proven beyond a reasonable doubt-to
try this case and no other case join
in that statement with the gentlemen
of the prosecution-you have not been
selected TO try Mr.. Heney or Mr.. john
son or Mr.. Langdon or Mr.. Spreckels.
or any of the counsel. You are here 10
l.
extorting money. and for nothing else.
1T is charged that January 10, 1905,
the defendant and Abe Ruef extorted
slI75 from Joseph Malfanti: that he
extorted that sum by means of threats.
They said that Ruef and SchmitZ would
prevent Maifantt from obtaining a
license for his French restaurant The
threat. with the use Of fear, to obtain
money was not an injury TO property
alone. but threat to do an unlawful
fn1uryI crave your attention to the
language of the statute II was not
a verbal threat; that portion of the
case is away from u.s. that is out OF
the case.
But it is claimed by the prosecution
that this defendant, Schmitz. SO oper-
afed on Commissioner Reagan that the
license was held up. To prove that
you must find beyond doubt that the
mayor controlled Reagan From Rea-
xan's own testimony that claim OF the
prosecution Is false. Reagan acted Of
his own volinon and without fear or
the exercise of intimidation / am
going to keep within the testimony
there would be no gain to me to mis-
state il, for you may have the tran
script in the jury room with you and
may have ii read to you or read 1t
Yourself II you so desire.
There Is no testimony that d threat
Vas made 70 extort the money from
these restaurant men Mr.. Blanco tes-
tffied that no person made & threat
against him: MaIfanti testified that no
person made threat against him;
Ioupy testified that no person made a.
threat against him; Debret, the partner
of Priet, testified that no person made
a threat against him; Adler testified
that no person made a threat against
him
LET US, IL we can, iudiciously and
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

convict this defendant you must believe that
the French restaurant men paid money under
threat of unlawful injury
RUEF'S CONFESSION
They tell you that Ruef pleaded guilty and
that this was equal to plea of guilty on the
part of the defendant Gentlemen Of the jury,
we have heard of confessions wrung by various
means M I through the h ages Of time; Gentlemen s Of
pairs s Of sa in S room S 20 DARK that f ,S sSu % San
geon you can the thumb screws. the old IN
struments of torture, the knee masher. the rack.
by which men have been torn limb from limb.
cent as on the day they were born. have made
confessions.
They have adopted an entirely different method
IN this day and age In this day and age we
have form of espionage by men called detec-
tves which has been used against this man.
you exactly how many there were. This man.
Ruef. poor, Insignificant creature. under the COM
has has been subjected to- to these @ me modern tortures &
There is the who cravled into his bed
chamber at dead Of night until his mind. gave
way and he shrieked with despair: 'I will plead
guilty. but am not guilty
Efe on such an argument: away with such
plea. Every self-respectfng man and government
should put foot upon such proceeding.
Ruef may be guilty. but the who violates
He brings nte disgrace the i y
can rights-the law. In the name Of justice. In
the name of decency. win you stand this?
goes upon the stand With ssliow sme and
when asked How many indictments have
been found against you7' replies 'T do not
know how many; there are great many"
10 $50 many you haven't counted them?''
"No. haven't counted them"
Mr. Ruef. what has this prosecution prom
ised you?"
"Oh, they told me that If told the truth
Burns would see what he could do for me-"
Who, In the name OF heaven, Is William ].
Burns? What position has Burns under the
Law Of California? What power has Burns 10
usurp the functions of justice? What right has
he to say mo matter what thou hast done, IL
thou dost testify against Eugene E. Schmitz
thou shalt go free?"
Who else told you that you could 80
free?' asked Of Ruef.
"Heney and Langdon."
If those men under oath Of office they are
misapprehending the law II they think they can
give liberty TO man because he swears away
the liberty of another.
Graveyards the sides of many green hills
are filed with the bleaching bones of the VIC
tins of common informer.
Ruef was swearing to pull himself from under
100 indictments by testifying here as be was
told to do. Do you believe In midnight vigil
Burns kept with him7 How, like the frogs Of
Egypt. Burns would climb into his chamber.
into the bread bowl, to instruct this man as
to what he was to swear to In this case. Do
you believe him? 1t suits his purpose 10
swear to what he sa-~ is true. Gentlemen. we
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

viii be sufficient. We asked:
Mr.. Ruef. before you were placed N custody
under Mr.. Burns. did you not always say you
had never given the mayor dollar or money
in your hfe1''
YES. 7 said that" he answered.
Gentlemen. II at that time IL suited his pur-
pose TO tell falsehood. then the testimony here
was the truth II it suited his purpose here
TO. tell falsehood. then the other staremenr
was true.
Then they came back with the poor, miserabls
subterfuge Of every liar since Munchausen-
Mr. Ruef. you were not under oath then
II is a willful and malicious falsiner.
what is the need Of 0athe
Gentlemen. you are asked TO convict in
nocent man on testimony OF that kind You
asked 70 convict man on the testimony
of such creature; you are asked 70 deprive a
OF bis liberty under such testimony OF
such man and under such circumstances i
leave you with Mr.. Ruefs testimony.
But more point. and then / viii have done
all that I can. II is charged that there was
threat Who made such threat1 asked the
prosecution 70 tell you in what words Reagan
made the threat Assuming that there was
threat. was il TO do unlawful act3
This is the last word that be said When
you go to the juryroom it vil be With the
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
Rise and Fall Of Mayor Schmitz

August 22, 1864-Born in San Francisco.
June 1871-Graduated from boys high school.
June 10, 18o1-Married to Miss Julia Driscoll of
Watsonville.
November, 1oO1-Elected Mayor of San Francisco.
November, 1oO3-Elected Mayor of San Francisco
for second term.
November, 19o5-Elected Mayor of San Francisco
for third term.
October, 1o06-Left for European trip.
November Is, 1o06-Indicted for e<tortion.
May, 1o07-Indicted for bribery.
May q, 1o07-Trial for extortion begun.
June Is. 1o07-Convicted of extortion.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
LoUpY.s TALK WITH RuEF

Loupy had q talk with Ruef and Ruef said:
III you want TO employ me as your attorney
I'll take the case aud charge you much. :"
What is there about Loupy's testimony that
you'd take it TO deprive a man of his lib
erty?
Does the great fundamental principle OF our
government require that you should do that?
Do the great people thirst for a victim 50 that
they urge you TO take half the testimony of a
witness disjoining the other half? Is that
giving the defendant the presumption of inno-
cence? I not who he is, whether he is
the president Of the United States the~man
who sweeps the streets before the law, when
he comes into court Of justice. he stands with
every ether
What was 1T moved these French restaurant
people TO fear? What did Malfant sayf Did
these people not say when they saw Hutton
and Drnkhouse voting il was all up?
Reagan and Hutton had said that they IN
tended to vote tagainst the places SO long as
the present conditions prevailed. All that shows
that the entire cam p1dgn was against the man
ner In which the places were conducted That
is the testimony in this case, thst is the testi-
mony on which they ash you to find the de-
fendant guilty of rpaking threat to do an
unlawful injury TO the business.
The defendant went on the stand and ne
met the case brought by the people; he told
you just what his conduct had been.
On the second third Of January Pierre Priet.
Blanco and Malfanti went to see him. What
did he say? II have enjoyed eating in your
places and viii that you get your licenses "
few days later Reagan called on the mayor,
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
RUFF ON THE STAND

1t is their duty to have Ruef on the stand
tell the full story Did they do it2 Did they
attempt to do it3 No. they closed their case
without the slightest pretense Of putting Ruef
on the stand without showing by any evidence
that the defendant got single dollar from
Ruef. When the defendant was the stand be
was asked. Ibid you get any money from
Ruef: NO" he replied
Then Ruef went on the stand and gave his
testimony. It was false, false as he'll. and you
know it, The exigencies Of the case that Burns
set up at night. dragging from that pitiful soul
the story of holding up the French restaurants,
by putting that poor soul the shadow OF
hundred years in the penitentiary, You do
not have TO believe his testimony You may
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

war on these places and to keep it up viii
have come to me and asked me to do What
could for these people. Give them their IL
law law - - 'a' lucy e'np's win 'ns
They say there was meeting at the mayors
house. Yes. there was. 1t was shown that the
ton Of the presidency of the board came up.
the men refused to take orders from him. Ii
the mayor could not even get Reagan to vote
as be, be wanted s,la for the chairman how could ne
Ruef was there as attorney for the French
restaurants The mayor said to Ruef: 81 am
showed the mayors motive. Read the record;
you will see why Schmifz removed Hutton Hut
ton for years had stood ont nghting the policy
Gentlemen Of the jury. was there anything
in that meeting at the mayors house that
makes you believe him guilty Of ertortion?
We must upbuild San Francisco; we must
rehabilitate San Francisco. But is the way to
build up, to rehabilitate San Francisco to con-
Wet this defendant?
PROSECUTIONS CASE
Let us build up San Francisco. rehabilitate
San Francisco, but let us be moved In all our
building az God made US, in truth and honesty.
Let it 60 forn TO the world that the rebuilding
just to the rich and poor, the young and the
old, the great and the small. Let US not build
up Paris was built after 100, with the
mortar Of the blood and liberty of the people.
Let US not build by rampiing down the liberty
Of the citixens-
The prosecution would ESTABLISH its case on
the evidence Of Michael Debret, the partner Of
Pierre Priet. Priet told him, Debret said that
he had made contract with Ruef, that he had
paid Ruef In money; there was no check or no
receipt. Ruef. the stand yesterday, pro-
duced the contract. Mind you. they said he was
paid in currency: there was check. nothing
to incriminate any one. II q man VIII sign a
contract, though why win he not sign a check
Ruef took the contract signed by Priet. Is
there any extortion, anything Illegal gentle
men, IL for IS. 600 this man agrees to prosecute
and defend any and all actions brought against
these men? One had 100000 invested In his
business: Blanco had 500 600. They say there
is something wrong because this man would not
take check; he would not take check, but
be signed his name to a contract II this con-
tract is proved the case ends here.
What would become Of the case II II weres a
civil action and we were bound to establish the
fact Of this contracti Now the other side ID
bound to establish beyond q doubt the fact that
there was no such contract.
.Ruef was political boss, they say. Suppose
be WAS Did he go out as political boss and
tell the restaurant men TO come TO time? They
went to him and asked him ia toke charge OF
the
The crime Of extortion is akin to robbery. To
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

were castigated yesterday IN language loud
aud eloquent that I should think the very shin
giles would fy away to heaven-and the gentle
man who follows me viii shake the rafters.
Ruef said IF be testified to what he told
these people about this II would have been
favorable to the defendant These people
the sworn officers Of the law. IL is much
their duty 10 see that the innocent Is acQui.-
ted as that the guilty Is convicted.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

SST KNEW from the first that toith an hon
est jury no other result than the uerdict
of guilty were possible in this case. The presen-
tation of the cause Of the state by Francis ].
Heney and Hiram w. Johnson Yas superb. >
William !. Burns
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
1ys Speech

6 IT'S all ouer now-this quicko Well.
haze nothing but sonow and sympathy
for Mayor Schmitz now If he had taken my
lDord, my aduice, he'd not be lDhere he is now.
And | feel sorry for him-yes, and for his
family EXPO Commissioner Thomas
Reagan
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
Ruef Expresses Sorrow for Schmitz

CT AM sincerely sorry for the verdict, both for
Mayor Sclr1itz himself and for his family
Further than this have nothing to say at present
Comment of Abe Ruef on the verdict of the jury
that convicted Mayor Schnlitz.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

s. WE shall not stop until the whole situ-
W alton has been cleared up 4 gain
may uoe repeat the statement made at the inau-
gmdtion of this campaign: No innocent man
need fear the ldu, no guilty man may hope to
escape it"-District Attorney Langdon.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

sS 7 DO not desire to say anything at this
time. 1 believe that the developments
of the day speak more eloquently than could
any lDords 1t is not our desire to talk, but
rather to act There is much to be done, and
the prosecution uill not pause in its york =
Rudolph SprecRels
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

read it line by line, then your oath can you
say that there was any threat, real or implied.
by the mayor to do anything that would be
violation of his oath OF office?
II VIII not do to say that the defendant was
thrice elected mayor, elected by the labor peo-
pie and then turned to the rich-that Is not ar
gument, but an appeal to your prejudice or IN
attempt to appeal to them In this case.
Reagan is contradicted by three gentlemen
who come on the stand and say that it was at
their instigation that he started his war on
the restaurants. They are Scott. Smith and
Condrotte. They went and got Reagan evidence
against Tortonf.s and Reagan sent them with
ii to the secretary of the board of police COM
missoners and the secretary fled compla int
before the board and the license was then
taken from that place.
All this time from March on. the Poodle Dog.
Marchand's and the Pup had not been touched
and the license of Delmonico's and the Bay
State had just been held up for one week
This is the evidence they ask you to convict
this defendant, on.
Mind you. gentlemen of the Jury, there is
not scintilla of evidence that either one of
the defendants ever spoke word about a
threat. You can't presume against the liberty
of man; you can't presume they did. 1t was
the duty of the prosecution to prove that and
they have not done so.
The gentleman who opened says. Don't you
believe that Loupy the agent for Ruef.'
But what is the evidence? They ask you TO
consider the facts which fit into their theory Of
the case.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
Boys Suit Specials

They're thoroughly tested cold water shrunk
true blue'' serges, built into pretty little Sail
ors and Russians Go on sale today and tomor-
row at an extraordinarily low price. Sailors are
5 to 1OLthe Russians ~ to 6. These suits are
beautifully finished with white embroidered
shields-they are splendidly made. The regu-
lar price is Sc. We need only remind you that
blue serge suits are as staple as gold and to cut
the price on them as we have done in this in
stance requires no further argument Today
and tomorrow, 1885,.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14

convict this defendant you must believe that
| the French restaurant men paid money under
threat of unlawful injury.
The San Francisco call., 1907-06-14
REAGAN's TESTIMONY

Campbell then read from the testi-
mony Of Reagan. quoting that par
where the witness said that he would
have voted for the Poodle Dog any time
that IL would have complied with the
law. He continued:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
PRODUCE oUoTArIoNs
The Latest Closing Prices In the
PrlncLnaL Markets


PHILADELPHIA - FLOUR firm;
winter extras. S2.IOG29O; Pennsylya-
MIA roller. clear. $3.50 SIS; city mills,
fancy, $4,000 AGO. RYE FLOUR firm +:
per barrel $3.50. WHEAT steady: No
2 Pennsylvania red, 1SiAI 79c. CORN
firm; No. yellow. local. 53iRc. OATS
steady; No white. clipped. 49l5c. :
lower grades. fSc. HAY frm; No. /
timothy, large bales. S2150. PORK
STEADY, family, per barrel. $3.50.
BEEF firm; beef hams, per barrel, SIG.
POULTRY: Live steady; hens, Ice. ;
old ROSTERS. lie Dressed steady:
choice fowls. 15c. old roOsters. 10i6c.
BUTTER steady; extra creamery, Sc.
EGGS steady; selected. 1870 20I&c. !;
nearby lgiac.. southern. 15SaT16lhc.
POTATOES steady; per bushel, IS
G5Sc.
BALTINfORE-W WHEAT easier; No.
2 spot ISlt 4lS$sc.; steamer No. 2
spot, 76ia ~ 15S4c.; southern. 75n soc.
CORN easier; mixed spot, 54% M54zkc.:
steamer mixed, 81 u 051iAc: southern.
b2ih@541sc. OATS firm; white, No. p
Rd49c.; No. 3, 4S04S5sc; No. a.
460s6izc.; mixed, no. >, 47M47lbc.
No. 3, 46Ws635c.; No. 4, 45m l5Ikc.
BUTTER firm; creamery separator ex-
tras, 500 Sic; held, 24I25c.; prints.
31Q32c. EGGS firm: fancy Maryland
Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Vir-
ginias lS1xc.; southern. 1914 q loo
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
First Of All

Tho excitable individual came in
late and when the man in the coat
room took longer than usual to check
.his coat his temper knew no bounds.
Hurry up," Zee exploded. land
check my coat, Can't you see I have
been standing here an hour2"
my man" replied the other, calm
~. it is not your coat you want
checked"
Then what is it. blockhead?"
why your temper. sir."-Chicaro
Daily News
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
Good News.

81 have" said the lawyer. "a he en-
tered his condemned clients cell,
good news at last"
"A reprieve?" eagerly exclaimed the
prisoner.
mo, not a reprieve; but your uncle
has left you $4,000. and now you can
meet your fate with the satisfying
feeling that the noble efforts of your
lawyer on your behalf will not go
unrewarded."
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
His Idea Of L.

~Of course YOU are in favor OF im-
proving tho consular sorvlce?"
Il am" answered Senator Sor.
ehum- What We want In an branches
OF government service is a corps OF
subordinate employees SO proficient
that the person appointed as the head
can't possibly go wrong. Washing
ton Star
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04

Iawyer-And you say the noise
made by this defendant with his mo-
tor caused your horse to take fright
and run away. What made the
hoise?
Farmer dunno, but 1t sounded
like e sawmill with the grip.-Bald-
more American.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
So Nice Of Them.

Gunner tricd 20 tease my wife
about women always getting OF tho
street car backward. She said it was
etiquette.
Guyer-EuQuotte
Gunner-Yes. she said they consid-
cred it impolite TO turn their backs
on tho couductor.-Chicago Daily
News.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
live Stack Mark.ts

PITTsBURG (Union Stock Yards)-
CATTLE steady choice. $5.S0Q6;
prime Wethers, S5.s566; culls and
common. S2.5044: lambs, S50765;
veal calves, $7Q725. HOGS active and
higher prime heaviss, $7.O5; mediums
and heavy Workers. $710G7121k; light
Workers and pigs, $71047.20; roughs,
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04

Tho fashionable girl wcpt.
-ConEdcl- 81. mamr-a

Tho fashionable girl went
"ConEdci" said mamma.
'Boohoo'" sobbed tho girl. Il am
always receiving d.sappointmcnts. You
know had made arrangements 10
startlo society by clipping with our
chauffeur"
Eyes. my dear"
~Weu, 1 have just found out that
ethel Glider is passing tho tip that she
IS going 90 elopc with the pilot OF an
airship. Chicago Daily News.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04

Frock of brown velvet for child
from i've to eight years old. The
blouse and skirt are both plated and
each form box plat ia the middle Of
the front, Ornamentcd with straps of
braid and gold buttons.
The shoulder collar and deep curs
are OF Irish lace. and the collar.
sleeve bands and girdle are OF velvet.
the two first trimmed with the braid
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
Always TaIklno.

What kind OF a looking man is
that chap Gabbleton? / don't believe
1 have met him"
well, II you see two men In a
conner. and one OF them looks bored
70 death. the other one Is Gabble-
eoni"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-04
Inside information.

II every mortal would confess
All frankly what he must endure
How often would we scorn success!
How often envy lives obscurel
washington star
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-12-26
Three Hunters Lost.

After five days Of racking exper'
fence as duck hunters In the wilds of
the sand dunes Of Moses lake b.
Keeney. F. L. Goodrich and W j.
Harter returned 10 Hatton SUNDAY
evening. says an item from Hatton'
Wash. The trio left here last Mon
dav night with the expectation OF re-
turning Wednesday evening but the
experience through which they had
passed compelled Them 10 remain IN
the desert until they were discover n
bv a settler in the locality who sel
them upon q course for their camp
Their trip seemed 70 have b zen 10
nah" from the beginning. since they
went away without the greater por-
tion OF their ammunition, the loss OF
which was not discovered until theS
had reached Othello, wher they sent
a message to have il forwarded 10
them.