Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-05-31
MORE INDICTMENTS
IN SAN FRANCISCO,
Ruef, Schmitz, Calhoun and Others Are
Caught Again in the Net of
Prosecutors

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May %
The bribery plot grows wider and deep
er. The grand jury last night returned
eighIy-Dine more indictments for bribery
against Mayor Schmitz, Abe Ruef and
Of officials Of the street railway, teIe-
phone and gas companies.
These indictments are in addition to
the ones already reported Tie list Of
reiudicted men follows:
Eugene Il. Schmiz, mayor Of San Fran
cisco ......... ............ :...lG
Abraham Rucf, political boss Of the city.I4
Patrick Calhoun, president Of the United,
ThGrnWa .ni MnlIaiiy. assistant to Patrick -
Louis Glass, president Of the Pacif states
Trlcphone and Telegraph company -. .
Ahcodor" \. IalScy, formerly an agent
IF I'll" telephone company ..............
alrcy !. Ford, attorney for the United
Railroads. ......... ...................14
" NJ Abbott. attorney for the United
L~'i'IFhadS .-...-... II
Innocent, Cry Indicted
Patrick Calhoun issued \ lengthy
statement in which he says the return
ing of indictments against himself and
associates is another step III the pro
gralnIHc to gain political control of this
city ~ Rudolph Spreckels and others for
selfish purposes through Il combination
with the Labor union party.
Mr.. Calhoun said:
u" my friends throughout tie coun-
Ty, ] give the assurance that these in
3IctmcntS are not founded upon facts.
'hat there IS no evidence that could
.:stify them, and that my associates and
| viii be fully indicated"
Thornyall Mutually said:
Il am absolutely innocent of any of
the charges made against me. This will
be clearly shown as soon as the OppOr-
tunity offers. The souls Of the men re-
sponsible for them are more burdened
than mine"
All Charged With Bribery.
Ruef, Schmitz, Calhoun, Mutually, Ford
md Abbott are charged with brbing
fourteen supervisors to grant an over
head trolley franchise to the United Rail
roads. Schmitz is further charged with
bribery III connection with the fixing of
she gas company's rate and with receiv-
mg $1,000 n the United Railroads fran
shise deal.
The indictments against Glass are adj
ditional to the eleven indictments alread
returned against him on the charge of
bribing supervisors to refuse Il com
petitiye telephone franchise The in
fictment against Halsey is for the same
pffense
Superior Judge Coffey fixed bail in the
sum of $4,000 on each of the charges.
Who the Indicted Are.
Abe Ruef, for years 4 power in poll
ties, is a native of San Francisco He
was instrumental III clecting Schmitz
mayor. The police and saloon power was
controlled by Ruef, but the earthquake
and fire upset his domination to GER
tain extent and led to the indictment for
graft. Ruef is said to have received
from the trolley, gas, phone, and other
sources S150.OOO and paid out $174, 900,
keeping the rest.
Eugene Il. Schmitz, ''the fiddler may
DR." was elected to office by the labor
element. lie proved to be a fgurehead
mayor, as Ruef was the power behind
the throne. City offices were bartered
and vice and crime protected for fl
nancial consideration. The crusade
against graft led to the mayors indict-
ment.
1t has been claimed that Schmitz re-
ceived $4,000 from the various fran
rhise schemes worked through the coun-
cil Abe Ruef, however says Schmitz
got only $4,000.
Calhoun Paid $H50,000.
Patrick Calhoun as president of the
United Railways wanted overhead troll
ley wires strung throughout San Fran
cisco. The citizens were opposed to this
system and wanted underground con
Quits. The road, according to confess
siOns. paid Ruef $4,000 as an attor-
ney's fee OF this sum Ruef and Schmitz
are said TO have received 100000 each.
Theodore V. Halsey is the alleged
bribe dispenser for the Pacific States
Telegraph and Telephone company. He
was arrested in Manila following the
graft revelations. At present he is gen
eral manager of the telephone system al
Manila HalSey is Il brotherin-law of
the late John j. Sabin.