Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-31
RUFF is ON TIE PAYROLL
Director Says Pao'fc Telephone Company
Pays Boss $1,000 a Month.
SAYS IT is UP 10 GLASS TO EXPLAIN
Another Member OF Board Denies All
knowledge of bribery and Refers
Grand Jury 90 Indicted
Man.

SAN FRANCISCO. March sO.-Two SEN
sational pieces Of evidence In the bribery
graft were adddced before the grand jury
today. Three members Of the executive
board of the Pacific States Telephone
company. Il. S. Pillsbury Homer s. King
and Timothy Hopkins, testified that they
had no knowledge OF the alleged bribing
Of supervisors to vote against the award
of a competitive franchise to the Home
Telephone company and that II bribery
was committed 1t was "up to- Vice Presi-
dent Glass whom the grand jury already
has indicted on nine counts to explain.
Another member Of the executive board,
Percy s. Morgan. made the same denial
Of knowledge several days ago when on
the witness stand The second sensation
came when p. s. Pillsbury. who is a di-
rector Of and attorney for the Pacific
States Telephone company, testified that
Abraham Ruef, the indicted political boss,
has been for more than two years on the
private payroll of that corporation and
has been paid regularly $1,000 a month.
This, said Pillsbury, was more than the
salary paid himself. When he discovered
this, he testified, he objected to the COM
pany and his own remuneration was in
creased
Several witnesses Examined.
The following witnesses we're examined
by the grand jury today: e. S. Pillsbury,
Timothy Hopkins, Homer S. King, w. j.
Kennedy, cashier of the Pacific states
Telephone company; John S. Cannon, jan
itor Of the Mills building, who was in
terrogated as to his knowledge as to the
alleged payment Of supervisorial brides
by ]. V. Halsey in behalf Of the Pacific
States company in room In that build.
ing; Dr. Fred Eaton and Miss Mary Ryan.
The latter was Halseys stenographer az
the time of the alleged bribery and is now
employed as stenographer by the South
ern Pacific comptny. Miss Ryan was the
last witnes so fthe day.
Louis Glass caused considerable surprise
by appearing in the witness ROOM. He
stated that ne had come OF his own volltion.
Assistant District Attorney Heney and
Special Agent Burns contradicted this
statement fatty. They said that Glass had
been subpoenaed. but by mistake. He
was not called before the grand jury but
was excused a few moments after his ar
rival.
Ruef Trial This Week.
District Attorney Langdon said that II
the plans are not altered the grand jury
will hold one session every day next week,
and the trial Of Ruef on the French res
taurant extortion cases will be actually
begun next Tuesday and steadiIl proceeded
with In this event, said Langdon, It Is
likely that he and Special Prosecutor
Hiram L. johnson will appear against
Ruef, while Heney engineers the investl-
cation before the grand jury Langdon
said that today's proceedings before that
body had been very satisfactory"
| He stated that additional indictments win
/ be returned as a result OF the telephone
Investigations. but he did nit know how
soon nor would say against whom. The
induisitors contrary to expectations did
not get through with the Pacific states and
Home Telephone companies this week.
/ Those Investigations win be, carrier over
into April Heney stated that the sub
poenaing of Edwin T. Earl and DR.. John
r, Baynes of LOS Angeles was done with
out his knowledge, that neither of them
has yet started for San Francisco, that
Mr.. Haynes has been temporarily excused
and that in his-Heneys opinion-Earl and
Haynes do not know much in connection
1 with the Home Telephone AFFAIRS that would
ne NdluhDie 10 the BEdhO Jury
Program OF Grand Jury.
The grand jury program, as far as any
! program is observed in that body, proposes
the commencement early next week Of ar
exhaustive investigation into the alleged
bribery Of supervisors and other administra.
ton officials and politicians by the United
Railways, the San Francisco Gas ana Elec
trio company and the Prize Fight trust n
the order named
Mayor Schmltz today issued a statement
denying the charge made by the prosecution
that he is endeavoring by vigorous means
to cause the resignation of a certain mum
Der OF supervisors in order to I'LL theii
places with men who would Illustrate an,
attempt on the part OF the supervisoria
board to revoke those public service fran
chlses, which they are accused OF havinl
awarded as a result OF bribery. The mayo
said however, that some Of the local labo
organizations are using their influences 4
cause designations of supervisors who, /
is announced by the prosecution. have con
fessed their guilt to the grand jury. Tn
mayor said he had no oficiaI knowledge o
such confessions and that IL such knowl
edge comes to him officially he will at ono
take steps to effect change in the board
personnel
RuePs Plan of Defense.
Abe Ruef today intimated in an intervie,
that his defense against any indictmen
! arising from the alleged confession G
Supervisor Gallagher will be that Gallag
e hers testimony. If he had testified, is with
; out confederation and cannot be supporte
by the testimony of other witnesses.
In a second interview. Ruef for the fri
I time since his capture at the Trocader
q denounced his prosecutors, declaring this
h he is being kept in private prison in violl
u ton Of all law and precedent and announc;
that he win produce in court afidavi
u sworn TO before his capture, proving TIL
the acts OF his prosecutors are parta OF
conspiracy. Ruef claimed also that q
reason that every newspaper In San Fra
IS cisco Is denounclng him as a CRATER and
), rascal is that these newspapers either a
y privately subsidized or were unable to vie
Le the influence IN administration affairs tn
le craYsd.
one Of the seven guards employed
Elisor Biggy TO watch against the esca
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