The San Francisco call., 1907-06-16
POOR ScHMITz," SAYS RUEF
Latter Is Interested Over Threat
Made by Sheriff o'Neill

Threats made by Sheriff O'Neill yes-
terdsy that.fe would resent the crit
icjsm directed 2 at him from the dis
triet attorneys Office relative TO his
hardness in confning Mayor Schmitz
in Jail by applying for the custody of
Abe Ruef greatly interested the lat
ter.
Ruef has 7fnsistently and bitterly
criticised the espionage he has been
subjected to since being placed in the
custody of Biggy and the corps Of
eiisorial guards, claiming that the
whole system was virtually refined
form of the third degree planned by
Burns TO rack d sensitive organism.
His most intimate acts and interviews
with friends have always been watched
by guards, and he holds the inffexible
cruelty of ii 10 be responsible for his
final breakdown and confession of
guilt. M
As in most other things, however
Ruef wavers between conflicting emo
tiOns over the threats that the sheriff is
10 apply for-his custody. With all the
alleged hardslips. Of his imprisonment
under Biggy. Ruef would feel reluctant
10 be transferred from the .et!sor TO the
sheriff To begin with, the prison house
On Fillmore street is only block away
from his own hones and members Of
Ruef's family are so close to him that
their daily visits are mitch more fire.
quent and convenient than would be
the case if they would have 10 Journey
to the county 5aiI. Then. again, the
severity Of the espionage maintained
over him has relaxed considerably since
his plea in court -
Biggy and the guards all profess to
have a regard for Ruef, and his inn
prisonment under them is probably
much more desirable than it would be
under the sheriff m en-. Ruef will ever
be q sort of exquisite rascal. and the
very servants in the house formerly oc-
cupied by the mayor who built the
plush lined loot chest under the bed
like to do little services for him 10
, ease his captivity. Ruef would lose
sunny rooms and a lot of comforts If
forced TO abandon his present mode Of
custody, but against these he weighs
liberalization of the watching he now
undergoes FROM the agents. of Burns
and probable new friends and privi-
lcges that would come to him in the
county jail.
Ruef would not consent to discuss
O'Neil's threats for publication when
seen last night. Earlier in the day.
however, when one of his nscst conf
dental cronies was. calling on him. ne
remarked with every display of feel
ing:
HOW j GO pity poor SCnm1tE. al
certainly must be dismal for him there
in jail. no matter how well he is being
treated by 0,Aen
Later he feIaxed from this plafntipe
strain and SAID. with all the hard
ships, though. Sehmitz probably has
more freedom than I have pent up here
with ears and eyes strained to know
what ] do or talk about It's all a
shame" t--.ts-a .r
Friends Of Rgef, believe that O'Neil
would experience little difficulty in
having the supreme court entertain an
application from him to get possession
OF Biggy's prisener, They argue that
the saving IN expense to the county
alone might Justify the court in order
ing. the transfer What Ruef thinks
about the legal aspect of the matter
he carefully srefEaips from discussing.
Everything considered, he is probably
hoping that he VIII remain where he
is for the present
Schmitz. in the superiutepdent.s room
on the second f1oor of the Jail near
Ingleside. made the acquaintance of all
his guards yesterday and encountered
many expressions of sympathy from
them. He was not overbuoyant, how
ever. and frequently relapsed into dis
NAL spells, from which he aroused Him
self with difficulty. he was IN bed
early last night