davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
His Fearful Description of the Rottenness
of the Government
He Says He Told Mayor schmitz That the Thieving
Was Going Too Far and That There Must be "a
Return to Honest Practices.

San Francisco, May 15.-Abraham
Ruef the acknowledged advisor of
Mayor Schmitz. the once recognised
dictator Of municipal affair. pleaded
guilty TO the charge of eKtortioa. Ia
Judge Dunne's court today. Sentence
will be pronounced two weeks hence. ..
After a private conference with his
four attorneys in Judge Dunne's pri-
vate chambers this forenoon after
they had withdrawn from the case be-
cause of the resolution he had taken
10 change his plea and avoid trial.
Ruef. 10 the utter astonjshment of the
prosecution. arose in court and an
nOunced in a dramatic address, that
after long and earnest consideration
he had deterrnined to withdraw his
plea of not guilty and enter a plea of
guilty.
Ruef read his statement from the
manuscript which he had prepared in
the presence of his attorneys a few
moments before in the chambers. He
showed in voice. in the expression of
his face, in HIS quiet gestureless atti-
tude, and by the tears that again and
again Overflowed his eyes. the great
emotion, the utter humiliation he suf-
fered.
The pathos of the scene was COM
municated to the crowd that thronged
the court room. Tears sprang to the
eyes of veteran newspapermen wha
had been lifelong acquaintances and
whose papers have conducted against
him and his associates a long and bit
ter campaign for the publication Of
municipal affairs The accused man
several times was all but overcome by
emotion. When he reached the final
words Of his address the voice sunk to
whisper. But SO intense was the sill
ence7 that it reached to the far corners
of the room.
Though Ruef formally declares
himself guilty of the charge on which
he was about to be tried. he neverthe-
less Proclaims his innocence. He con-
fesses that he is guilty of having con-
nived in the corruption of municipal
officials. but denies, with all the en-
phasis a man in his unhappy position
can command that he is guiltless of
the crime of extortion charged against
him. He declares that his sole motive
in accusing himself in open court was
TO save the lives of those who are
nearest and dearest to him. his aged
father and mother. his maiden sister
a nj
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
MEXICAN EARThouAkg.

Chilpancinso. Mex. May is.-The
worst earthquake OF the Sierras that
has visited this region since the dis
astrous disturbance on April -. Was
felt here today.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
freely and fully when the time comes.
DAMN THE GRAND JURY.

Mr.. Burns of the prosecution" who
interrupted Ruef for a few minutes
while he was making this statement,
lust now asked me if 1 was willing
to go before the grand jury this after
noon and tell ALL l tolc him 1 GER
tainly was not 1 don't give a damn
for the grand jury. Why should /?
But there is this about 1t: When
have shaped my course and made up
my mind in every particular as to how
/ shall act, then I'll be willing to go
before the grand jury or before Will
liam J. Burns, or Heney, or anybody
they appoint and tell them what
have decided to tell.
zone word finally. / never in my
life did a man a wrong. I never pulled
a man down. 1 never asked a favor,
/ never sought a fee. 1 never took a
dollar from the public. i have been
guilty, and confess 1t with more emo
tion than you can see of connivance at
corrupt acts. For my guilt, insofar as
am guilty, must suffer; and / am
ready to accept the penalty. whatever
it may be. But Of the many things
the press has so bitterly and relent-
lessly charged against me. 1 am as in
nocent as are you. This is true OF
many others beside myself who also
have been made to feel the flame Of
unfair accusation
HENEY's AsToNIsHMENr.
Heney was probably as much aston
inshed as anyone by Ruefs facing
about with all it's attendant possibil-
tiles of municipal exposure. 1--WE" ="
said Heney. meaning the prosecution.
had not the least intimation that this
was to come. 1 have no comment
whatever to make upon Ruef's actions.
The Investigations by the grand jury
will continue"
One of the first callers after the
mornings sensational episode was
District Attorney Langdon. He went
to the house early in the afternoon
and was at once admitted to Ruefs
room. He shook the later by the hand
warmly and said: you did a manly
thing. l want to tell you now that
anything the prosecution can do fof
you will be done willingly and gladly"
Ruef requested an expression OF his
deep appreciation of the consideration
and courtesy continuously shown him
by his chief jailor, Elisor w. J. Bigsy.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
STATEMENT ITO rHE PRESS.

In the course of a long frank CONVEX
satton this afternoon with a represent
ative of the Associated Press in q
room in the house on Fillmore street
which for the last month has been his
prison, Ruef said: Il changed my
plea TO guilty in court today but I
pledge YOU my solemn word am as
innocent as you. I have been guilty
of conniving at the corruption Of mum
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
WANTED TO BREAK WITH
SCHMtTZ.

81 made no confession. know
much. Some things shall tell; some
things / shall not tell Whenever an
innocent man has been forced into
corruption against his will, that man
| shall protect. Whenever man. be
he high or low, entered into corrup-
ton willingly with his eyes open. that
man l shall expose.
Il will not say at the present NOM
ent that Mayor Scrmitz is guilty of
the charges brought against him or
that he is innocent. ] will say this.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
AMERICAN LEAGUE

At St. Louis r. III. f.
st. Louis ...---... .....-.-...5 II
Philadelphia ...... ...---...S 10
Batteries: Howell. Spencer. Buelow
and Evers; Coombs. Vickers, Dygert
and Schreck.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16

Icipal officials by corporations but in
these French restaurant cases / am
not guilty. / can have no motive in
misleading you on this point. shall
no; mislesd- you. Never. never in the
wide world could be convicted on this
charge. No ono knew this as well as
myself. Then why, you ask did I
plead guilty- | pleaded guilty to save
the lives of those who are nearest and
dearest to me on earth. am not
oyerstating the truth when tell you
that IL my father. mother and sister
had been compelled to endure the
strain of the trial, lasting at least two
months II would cost them their lives"
REACHED THE IIkiT.
Ruefs eyes filled with tears when
he said this. When he had mastered
himself. with wet eyes but steady
voice he went ON: "You don't know
what they suffered the last few
months and would not tell you il /
could. Night after nisht-cvery night
my father and my sister have come
up here and Eat for an hour. saying
nothing. seeing nothing. could not
stand it any longer. Last night
gathered my family about me in this
prison house and prepared them for
the act / determined upoE. That would
mean one day OF sorrow. To Eo on
would have meant months OF agony
and death.
Il don't know what the sentence will
be. For myself | do not greatly care.
| say no man possesses physical nerve
more than l do. I could face a crowd
OF five thousand men. or ten thousand
men. every one with a rope in his
hand clamoring for. my life. | could
face them calmly and meet my end
without flinchins, but the suffering of
those / love / could endure no longer.
l say / do not know what the sentence
will be-. II it be five years across the
bay ! can meet that when IL comes.
believe that with my personality.
leaving out of consideration the feel
ings of those who love me and have
stood by me l could spend five years
in San Quentin almost as comfortably
as in a hotel at Napa Springs. But If
the step | took this morning meant
five years, fourteen years. fourteen
hundred years. the fear of that would
not have deferred me.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16
BASE BALL FIELDS.
Where League Games Were Won and
Lost Yesterday.

NATIONAL LEAGUE.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16

eoa eAkG-s-feen brick. close -
car iine- Fine shade. barn. corner lo<.
east front; modern bath room electric
lights and gas. A delightful home COR
the year round E. E Pascoe. 1le
North Center street.
Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1907-05-16

MONEY 70 loAN.-ff you want 10
build and aeeA seshe money, come ane
see NE; my rates are the lowest Z. T.
Pascos, it9 NORTH Ceatsr Street.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
PROGRESS OF BIG FLEET
Was $50 Miles of Jacksonville, Fla.
at Noon Yesterday.

Savannah, Ga, December 1S.-The
Savannah wireless station this after
noon was in communication with the
flagship Connecticut, the Georgia and
the Minnesota, of the battleship fleet
Many official and private messages be-
ing sent to ..orfolk, Washington and
New York, from officers and corre-
spondents with the fleet, were caught.
The messages showed that the wire
less telephones are being used on the
trip and are proving successful. The
ships in the sQuadrons carry on coz
versations and receive orders for for
nation by wireless telephone.
At p. m. the fleet was reported in
communication with the wireless sta
ton at San Juan, P. R.
The following message was caught
at the Savannah station:
"Wednesday. noon, 240 miles; course
remains southeasterly, fleet $50 miles
southwest Jacksonville, at noon Er-
ans singled double column interval
1900 yards. we'll executed; special
flagship signal well done, Louisiana.
Beyond gulf stream, moderate swells
day perfect, magnificent pictures-blue
water, two lines white ships, crew
white dress, squadrons early shaken
down, keeping perfect distances"
A later message from the feet re-
ceivcd through the wireless station
here this evening reads:
"U. s. 8. Connecticut at sea De
cember 18th. During the twenty-four
hours since noon yesterday the fleet
made 24O miles the course continuing
due southeast.
"This afternoon Admiral Evans sig
nailed the squadron commanders &c
align their ships which had been NOV
ing in 500 yards The movement was
splendfdly executed and invoked from
the c0mmander-in-chief the sigma
Well done
I'VE are now beyond the gull
stream and only moderate swell dis
turbs the surface of the = sea. Tht
weather is magnificent and betWeer
the blue of the sky and the blue O
the waters, the two white lines OF bat
tleships moving with stately precision
make a magnificent picture.
The sQuadrOns scarcely can be sale
to he shaken down as yet and stll
they keen at perfect distances
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
DOES LARGE BUSINESS
Jobhinc Firm Affiliated With Ameri-
ican Tobacco Company.

New York, December 18.-That one
iobbing firm affiliated with the Amer
lean Tobacco Company does busl-
ness of s13 900 900 a year in New York
city and Yonkers was brought out to-
day in the hearing of the government
action against the company before
United States Commissioner Shields
Adolph D. Bendin, president of the Me-
tropolital Tobacco Company, testlneo
today.
Over Is per cent of the jobbing BUS
mess of New York city was controileu
by the metropolitan, M, Bend1n salo'
w. W. Reed, president Of the Amer
lean Supply Company, organized 10
purchase supplies for the American
Tobacco Company and subsidiaries
said the supply company recently earn
ed enough to declare stock dlVldeHa
Of sixty per cent. The stock was
owned chiefly by the corporations
purchasing through the supply com
pany. :,
An adjournment was taken ulll '''s
first week in January.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
INDIANS ON THE WARPATH
Twelve Men Captured and Put to
Death
Were Stripped, Stood up Against Trees
and Shot to Death-AInericaH Res
cued by Parties Who Claimed to be
Americans

No Gales. AriZ., December Is
Information which has just reached
here tells Of the frightfuI murder OF
twelve men by n band of $50 Yaqui
Indians, As miles southeast OF Mag
dalena, state OF Soronora, Mexico last
Wednesday. p. j. Mcintyre and a
party cf mining men Of this section
have arrived from the scene where
they viewed the remains OF the muir
dered men. The YaQuis captured the
party OF thirteen men. Among the
number was Jose Fernandez. son of
President Fernandez of the town of
Cucurpe and owner of the Mescal
plantation where the killing occur
red. The others were Mexican labor
ers on the ranch anG some Canank
miners looking for work.
One American was among the num-
Der, but he was rescued by men who
told him that they were Americans.
The remaining twelve were stripped
naked, stood up against trees and
shot through the head A hand Of
Yaquis is reported to be on the war
path.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
JUSTICE MACE OPENING SPEECH
Supreme Court Begins hearing Of
nutabIe Case
Involves Railroad Rate Law of North
Carolina-Regarded as of Great I'M
pOrtance-Will Decide Constitution
ality or Unconstitutionally of the
Law

Washington, D. c, December IS
The supreme court of the United
States today began the hearing of
arguments in the case of Sheriff
Hunter of Buncombe county, North
Carolina. against James II. Wood, of
the Southern Railway, involving the
railroad rate law of the state of North
Carolina. The case is regarded as of
very great Importance as it is eX-
pected to form an important prece-
dent as well as to establish the con-
stitutionality or unconstitutionality Of
the North Carolina law. On this ac-
count the court agreed to extend for
two hours the time for the presenta-
ton of the case, making six hours
in all and agreed that three attorneys
should be heard on each side. Under
this arrangement E. J. Justice, Judge
J. H Merrimon and former Governor
C. B. Aycock appeared for Hunter and
Alexander Pope Humphrey, Walter D..
Hanes and Alfred P Thorn for Wood.
The argument will not be concluded
before late tomorrow.
Mr. Justice made the opening
speech,
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
WILL ARRIVE FRIDAY
Taft OH Last Stage of His Journey
Around the World.

On Board President Grant, by Wire
less, via Halifax, N. S., December 1S-
Secretary of War Taft, who is finish
ing the last stage of his journey
around the world on the President
Grant, will probably reach New York
about noon next Friday In comment
ing today on the departure of the f1eet
for the Pacific, the secretary said
he viewed the undertaking with real
satisfaction. He regards the cruise
as necessary practice and valuable as
placing the men and ships under con-
ditions approximating a war footing
"By this cruise they will gain ex~
perience which would not be obtain
able in any other way" said he. 1T
would be useless to spend millions OF
dollars in building UP a navy and
then Withhold opportunities for prac-
tice"
Mr., Taft declared that the cruise
has no international significance. He
declined to discuss the American DO
litical situation in any way saying
that he has no personal knowledge
of present political conditions In the
United States.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT
Mayor Curry Thrown From Car ana
Receives Fatal Injury.

Atlanta, Ga, December 1S.-Malor
Manly B. Curry, U. S. A, paymaster
of the department Of the gulf, was
killed tonight by being thrown from
an automobile while on his way to
the terminal station to catch a train
for Macon.
Major Curry had been visiting the
home of Dr. William Carnes and was
being driven to the station by the doc
tor. When the machine reached the
end of the Washington street vladuct
DR.. Carnes failed to turn in time to
avoid a. collision with the railing
guarding Bnder pass entrance. The
shock threw Major Curry to the street.
He was quickly moved to hospital,
but died an hour later from concus-
sion of the brain. Doctor Carnes es-
capped injury.
Major Curry was sOn-ln-laW OF
United States Senator Bacon, and a
well-known Georgian.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
HIS 10TH BIRTHDAY
Admiral Dewey Gives Dinner in Cele
bratiOn of Event.

Washington, December 1S.-Ac-
miral George Dewey gave dinner To-
hight at his home on K. street in Cele-
bration of the 10th anniversary OF MS
birth. The annual anniversary does
not occur until the 20th instant. buU
the celebration was advanced in order
that the president might be present.
The dinner was informal in character,
there being no set speeches, but many
of the admiraPs guests took adEan-
tage of the opportunity in graceful
fashion to congratulate hlm. Ihose
present in addition to the admlral ana
Mrs Roosevelt Madame Bonaparte' 'MrS
John f. Mclean, Mrs. FREDERICK w.
Vanderbilt. Mrs Bayard, Mrs. Niclio-
las Fish, General Horace Porter sen
ator Brandagee, Admiral ana MrS
Brownson General and Mrs: Frea
D. Grant, General Gillespie, Mr.. ana
Mrs VanRensaelaer, Mr. and Mrs.
william Corcoran Eustis. Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Morton, Mrs. Uboker' Az,
miral Capps, Captain Horace Hood.
the English embassy Captain and Mrs.
sims and Lieutenant H. V. Butter.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
DEATH OF AUGUSTUS RINGLING
Noted Circus Man Passes Away III
New Orleans.

New Orleans, December 1S.-AuguS-
tus Ringing, head of the circus CON-
bination which controls the shows OF
Ringing Brothers, Barnum ana balie!
and Forepaughs-Sells, died here today
at a sanitarium.
Death was due to a complication OF
diseases.
Mr.. Ringing came to New OrleaH"
about two weeks ago with the nope
that the southern climate would DeAe-
fit him. e
Augustus Ringing was the Oldest OF
seven brothers. Born poor oog %
wears ago he educated himself ana ac-
cumulated sufficient funds with MS
brothers to start in their little nome
town of Baraboo, Wisconsin, the huc-
lens of the great shows he controiieo
at his death.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
A TRUCE DECLARED
Fight for Control of Illinois Central
Postponed for "a Hours.

Chicago, December 1S.-A truce for
"a hours was declared today in the
fight for control of the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad Company. Both the
meetings of stockholders and the in-
junction suit filed against the Har-
riman forces by Stuyvesant Fish were
postponed until tomorrow and the at
torneys representing the varied inter-
ests involved spent the greater part OF
today and tonight in a conference
seeking TO find a basis OF agreement
for further proceedings Up TO late
hour tonight no intimation had been
given that such an agreement had been
reached.
William Nelson Cromwell, chief
counsel for Hartman took command
of the legal forces for that side Of the
case this morning. The Hartman
lawyers asserted that the stockholders
meeting should be postponed until
Judge F. @. Ball had rendered a final
decision in the injunction suit.
Adjournment was taken until to-
morrow noon and further argument
in the case will be postponed until
tomorrow morning.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20

Washington. ID. e. December lS.-
After hearing arguments on various
points in the case, Justice Ashley NJ
Gould, in equity court today signed
the decree temporarily restraining and
enjOining the American Federation OF
Labor. its officers and all others from
interfering with the business OF the
Buck Stove and Range company and
from declaring and threatening any
boycott against ii. All attempts Of
counsel for the American Federation
OF Labor to modify the decree faileC
except in one particular. and thar
was TO exclude from the order the
Electro-Type Molders and Finishers
Union No. Il, against which IL was
shown no specific allegation had been
made. Justice Gould took occasion to
dwell upon the question Of jurisdic-
ton. He said there would be no at
tempt made by the court to assume
jurisdiction beyond the confines Of the
District of Columbia, but that its or
der was operative upon all the persons
defendant who are within the District
! Of Columbia An act, he said, COM
mitted by an agent or associate OF one
of these defendants outside the Dist
rict of Columbia could oe held as the
act of the person within the District
of Columbia so ordering IL and sub
ject such person to the punitive pow
er of the court. He believed the de-
cree should be very broad and that
he need not be too specific. There was
| he said, no likelihood Of the order be-
ing misunderstood because he was not
enjoining ignorant men but men who
knew their rights and knew the law.
Mr. Gompers, he said, was one OF
these
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
81 1OpIES RECOVERED
Effort TO ne Made to Determine cause
Of Mine Explosion

birmingham, Ala, December IL
Thirteen bodies have been taken from
the slope of the ill-fated mine TO-DAY
and one remain in the slope unre-
covered, bringing the total death llst
from Mondays explosion up TO 0l:
An Official inspection will be made OF
the mine tomorrow TO determine the
coueo and place the responsibility for
the explosion. A number OF mules
i,illed by the explosion have not oeen
moved and the foul odors from the
decaving bodies add TO the difncuines
Of the recovery work. While there i
g-aat deal of debris in the mine II
is thought work can be resumed IL
the next few days
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
Speaker Cannon VIII Announce As
signnleIit of Members Today.

Washington, D. c., December 1S.-
When the house re-convenes at noon
tomorrow Thursday. Speaker Can
non will announce his assignments Of
members to committees with the ex-
ception of those on appropriations,
banking and currency, mileage, and
dulles which already have been named.
The house will then be organized and
in position to get down to business
of the session Immediately after the
holiday recess.
The speaker has been working over
time for week to complete the organ
ization of a new house of representa-
tives
Sneaker Cannon did not complete
hisc ommittee assignments until Y
o'clock tonight.
Mr.. John Sharp. Williams who, by
virtue of his minority leadership had
the naming of the democrats to the
various committees worked behind
closed doors all of yesterday and to-
dav. and this evening sent his COM
pleted list to the speaker. The assign
ment task was heavier this year than
ever before, owing to the creation OF
about fifty additional committeesnlps
by the enlargement of the more impor-
tant committees by one republican and
one democrat on account of the IN
creased membership of the house; and
the fact that many members foresee
in the speakers selection an effect on
the presidential situation.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20
FATALITIES IN COAL MINES
Three Times More Men Killed in Uni
ted States Than in Foreign Coun-
tries

Washington, December 18.-The coal
mines of the United States are killing
three times as many men per 1000
employed as those Of most European
countries. In the last II years 22,S40
men have given up their lives in the
mines of this country. AS many vio-
lent deaths have occurred in the mines
during the last six years as during the
preceding eleven years. The number
of deaths each year is now double OF
the year 1905. These terrible facts
have been cleaned by government eN-
perts acting under orders from Secre-
tary Garfield of the interior depart
ment.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-20

and before and after delivery to the
consignee in such state or territory
be subject to the operation and effect
of the laws of such state or territory
enacted in the exercise of its police
powers, to the same extent and in the
same maner as though such liquids
or liquors had been produced in such
state or territory and shall not be ex-
empt therefrom by reason or being
introduced therein in original pack
ages or otherwise"