The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-05
WILL PUNISH
The GRAF TIERS
SAN FRANcIscANs RAISE FUND
OF 100000 FOR EXPENSE OF
THE PROSECUTION.
Close Guard Kept On Ruef, Chief OF
Bribe-oivers.

SAN FRANCISCO. March 2s.-Ru-
dolph Spreckles. who. by backing with
his fortune the prosecution in the
graft investigation made the present
proceedings possible, gave the Asso-
ciated Press a statement in which he
said
Contributions from citizens to the
FIND of $1,000 guaranteed by me be-
fore the commencement of the brio-
cry graft investigation, are coming IN
steadily. though slowly. They are in
amounts ranging from $40 to $1,000 or
more
If ii costs more than 100000 to
complete this prosecution that will
make no difference. Those engaged
in II will never be hampered by lack
of funds. no matter what the bill may
be.
1.-THE work Of investigating VIII not
he suspended until every bit of rot
tenness has been fully exposed. We
fully expect to land in the penitenti-
ary every giver of brides and the
higher up' offender the more vigorous
| will be his pursuit.
I'VE do not, however, expect 10
send every bride taker to prison. Some
of the miserable men who sold them
selves 10 the corporations must be
granted immunity in exchange for
their testimony, which is worth
great deal more to us as evidence OF
! the guilt of high corporation ofhclals
/ than their own incarceration would
! be.
Every department of the city and
county Government will be examined,
the Police Department along with the
others. No set of officers will be
overlooked.
Since the arrest of Abraham Ruef,
at the Trocadero a month ago, ru-
mors have been rife that an attempt
would be made to rescue him by force
from Elisor Buggy and his guards,
either during session of court or
while Ruef was being taken to or
from court.
An officer prominent in the bribery
graft investigation was asked today
if it is true that every person identi-
fed with the prosecution is going
armed and was questioned about the
Significance of this. He said:
Though l think the matter should
not be exploited. it is fact that ev-
cry man openly identified with the
prosecution of the bribery charges
and grafters is 'heeled' and that some
of the more prominent of them are
employing body guards. Though il
NAV sound sensational to those not
| familiar with the local situation, 1t
is a fact that for month we have
been keeping special lookout Tor
an attempted rescue of Ruef and we
shall be happily surprised If these In
yestigations and impending presecu-
tions end without 'gun-play
| Several times, when Ruef has been
1 In Judge Dunne's court sudden
movement toward the prisoner OF men,
some of whom we know to be reckless
| of personal consequences, has been
checked quickly and quietly by the
interruption of officers and deputies
I'VE know that should Ruef be res
cned-a seemingly impossible teat-
II would not be difficult thing to
hide him so securely right here in
San Francisco that to find him again
would be practically an impossibllity
The prosecution and the Ellison know
it and neither is taking any chances.
1T is stating literal fact to say
that each one of Biggy's seven guards
is instructed, in the event OF a ser
ious attempt at rescue by force, eth
or in court or elsewhere, TO shoot
Ruef and turn their attention to his
would-be liberators afterward.'
/