The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-16

4 to the charge of eXtorting money from
French restaurants spread rapidly over
the city. The street car strike and an
the many other troubles with which San
Francisco is affected were forgotten.
Amazement at the weakening of Ruef and
admiration Of Heney and Burns were eX-
pressed The news that Abe Ruef. once
pIactlcdlly dictator of san Francisco, ha0
pleaded guilty could hardly be believed.
There were many Surmises as In the rea-
son for the breakdown. Some attributed
il to ill-heaith. Others said Ruef signed
an agreement with Heney and Burns that
he was to receive 4 light sentence IL he
pleaded guilty and made a confession i'm
pliCating the brtbers. Assistant District
Attorney Heney was besieged with uues-
tiOr-s. but in reply to ali stated that at
this time he must decline 20 say anything
about the case
One of the physicians who examined
Ruef as To his physical condition stated
privately that the principal trouble with
him was that he was on the verge %
nervous prostration.
Dramatic Scene in Court.
The scene in court while Ruef was
making his statement was most dramatic.
RUmOrs flOated about during the morn
ing session that Ruef would plead guilty.
and when court convened after recess ev-
cry inch of space was taken by the curl
Gus crowd. When Ach ShOrtridge and
Murphy formally withdrew from the case
the knowledge that Ruef would plead
guilty was certain.
l0Gfe was not q SOitnQ from the crowd
as his trembling voice sounded his own
disgrace When he sank back to his
chair there was a general sigh of relief
and expressions of amazement.
While in consultation with his attorneys
during the recess just before noon Ruef
tainted. His condition was regarded as
serious and there was hurried call for
a glass of water A messenger rushed
into the Judges chambers where the con y
ference was being held, and Ruef soon re
viVed- He was trembling and pale, how
ever. and seemed in very bad way. His
attorneys grouped about him in a vain
effort to stimulate him and cheer him Up.
Calhoun Would Not Talk.
To the Associated Press. Patrick Cal
noun, president of the United Railroads,
II have nothing to say at present re-
garding the reported confession Of Abra-
Further efforts to draw from the rail
road president any expression concerning
the Ruef case were fruitless.
Heney Surprised
Assistant District Attorney FUarcfs
J. Heney was probably as much astorE
ished as anyone by Ruef's facing about
in open court, with all its attendant
possibilities OF municipal exposure.
I'VE" said Mr.. Heney, meaning the
prosecution, had not the least init
nation that this was to come. 1 have
no comment whatever to make upon
Mr.. RUefs action. The investigations
by the grand jury VIII continue"
One of the first callers on Ruef today
after the mornings sensational episode
was District Attorney William Lang
don. He went to the Fillmore street
prison house early in the afternoon and
was at once admitted to Ruef's room
He shook the latter by the hand warm
". and said: You did a manly thing.
I want to tell you now that anything
the prosecution can properly do for you
will be done willingly, gladly"
Buggy Good to Him.
Ruef requested the newspaper men
who called on him to express for him
his deep appreciation of the cOusidera-
ton and courtesy that has been con-
tinuously shown him by his chief taller.
Ellison W. !. Buggy
He has been good TO me- said Ruef.
Just as good as the law allows"
The state supreme court this after
noon, upon a stipulation submitted by
Ruef's former attorneys, dismissed the
application for release from custody bv
writ of habeas corpus; so that as the
matter now stands, it Is for Superior
Judge Dunno to decide whether the
fallen political boss shall remain a pris-
Oner in the Fillmore street house or be
set at liberty under bail