The Oskaloosa herald., 1907-04-04
ATTEMPT TORESCUE
BOSS" RUFF FEARED
ALL IDENTIFIED WITH PRosEcU'
TON GO ARMED.
"eUN PLAY" IS EXPECTED
Guards Ordered to Shoot Prisoner
First If Liberation Is Tried
spreckeIs Willingly Paying
for the Probe.

San Francisco, March 30.--Since the
capture and arrest of Abraham Ruei
at the Trocadero, month ago, rumors
have been rife that an attempt would
be made TO rescue him by force from
Elisor Buggy and his guards, either
during a session of court or while
Ruef was being taken to or from court
from HIS prison chamber in the st
Francis hotel.
An officer prominent in the bribery
graft investigation was asked Friday
If it is not true that every person iden
titled with the prosecution is going
armed, and was questioned about the
significance of this. He said:
Though | think the matter should
not be exploited, it is fact that
every man openly identified with the
prosecution OF the bribery charges
and grafters is going heeled,' and that
some Of the more prominent of them
are employing body guards. Though
it may sound sensational to those not
familiar with the local situation, it is
fact that for month we have been
keeping a special lookout for an at.
tempted rescue of Ruef, and we shall
be happily surprised if these investiga.
lions and impending prosecutions end
without a gun play
Started Several Times.
Several times when Ruef has been
q, Y,,de,x T1,,nrass o,,,,,-T IN 0pa ~ 9TH
er of the preliminaries that precede a
/, trial a sudden movement toward the
prisoner of men, some of whom we
know to be reckless of personal con-
sequences, has been checked quickly
and quietly by the interposition of of.
ficers and deputies in the employment
Of the prosecution.
I'VE know that should Ruef be res.
cued-a seemingly impossible feat-it
would not be a difficult thing to hide
him so securely right here in San
Francisco, that to find him again
would be practically an impossibility.
The prosecution knows this, the elisor
knows it, and neither is taking any
chances. -..
Told to Shoot Ruef First.
TT is stating a literal fact to say
that each of Biggys seven guards is
instructed, in the event of a serious
attempt at rescue by force, either in
court or elsewhere, to shoot Ruef and
turn their attention TO his would-be I'D
orators afterward. Ruef has been &C.
quainted with these orders. As he is
not the type of man to consent to
any plan Of escaping through force,
it Is only his rough and reckless
friends on the outside who would at.
tempt TO devise such a coup. Ruef
might try to regain his liberty by
strategy, but not otherwise"
SpreckeIs Paying Willingly.
Rudolph Spreckels, who by packing
the prosecution in the graft investiga.
tion with his fortune made the present
investigation possible, gave out a
statement Friday in which he said:
Contributions from citizens to the
fund Of 100000 guaranteed by me be.
fore the commencement of the bribery
81 eAll AhNNDAl5dtlOl olC COllltIB III
steadily, though slowly. They are in
amounts ranging from $40 to 81 900
and more"
In the event that the ultimate total
of subscriptions falls short of the
100000 guaranteed will you make
the deficit good?" Mr.. Spreckels was
asked.
He replied: Il certainly will, and If
1t costs more than 100000 to com.
plete this prosecution, that will make
no difference. Those engaged in its
furtherance will never be hampered by
lack of funds, no matter what the bill
may be.
Hope 10 Get High officials.
''The work of investigating will not
be suspended until every bit of rot.
tenness has been fully exposed. We
fully expect to land behind the bars
OF the penitentiary every giver OF
brides and the higher up the offender
the more vigorous will be his pursuit.
We do not, however, expect TO send
every bribe-taker to prison. Some OF
the miserable men who sold them.
selves to the corporations must be
granted immunity in return for their
testimony, which is worth great deal
more TO us as evidence of the guilt
OF high corporation officials than their
own Incarceration would be-"
In conclusion Mr. Sprecldes said:
Every department Of the city and
county government will be thoroughly
examined into before the investigation
is completed, the police department
along with the others. No one will be
neglected, no set Of officials will be
overlooked"
Old warshin Marion "a a. Said