Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-14
San Francisco Mayor Convicted
of Extortion From Restau-
rant Keepers
MUST DON PRISON eARR
Law Provides No Fine for offense-
Schritz Will Be Deposed From May
orally and Successor Must Be Named
Former Mayor Phelan May Sue
coed Him-schmitz's Career.

San Francisco, June 14.-Mayor
Schlnitz was last night found guilty
OF receiving money from the French
restaurant keepers by the jury consid-
ering the case, after but short de-
liberation. While those who have been
following the trial felt fans sure OF
his conviction after Ruefs testimony,
yet Schmitzs friends expressed the ut
most confidence that he would be ac-
quilted.
The case thus ended Is one OF the
most remarkable on record anywhere.
and 1t is necessary to go back to the
prosecution of Boss Tweed TO hnd
parallel unless the recent Ruef case
be considered.
Mayor Eugene SchmitZ has been one
of the most popular men with the
working classes that San Francisco
ever knew. He is musician by occu-
patton and was still an orchestra lead
er when elevated to the chief magis-
tracy OF the city.
The specific charge against him Is
receiving $500 from the restaurant
keepers thru Abe Ruef, the latter ad-
hitting that he turned half OF his Zee
over to the mayor. The restaurants IN
question have been celebrated all over
the world for the excellence of their
cuisine and the laxity of their morals,
they being little else than assignation
houses. Hence they came under the
IA
the sort Ruef levied. ms
The conviction OF the mayor Will
mean the speedy filling OF his chair by
a strong, honest and capable man.
Schmitz will no doubt try to get new
trial, but Judge Dunno will promptly
deny this motion. Then Schmitz VIII
appeal to the supreme court on writ
Of error, but the supreme court recent-
~ has shown disposition to decide
quickly on such appeals.
The moment Sehmitzs appeal Is de-
MED by the supreme court he ceases to
be mayor. The charter then provides
that Chairman Gallagher Of the finance
committee becomes acting mayor, and
1t devolves on the supervisors then to
elect a mayor.
AS these supervisors hold office only
at the pleasure of Assistant District
Attorney Heney, who at any time may
prosecute them for accepting brides.
they will vote exactly as Heney and
Rudolph Spreckles desire.
The man most competent to fill the
mayors chair is former Mayor James
D. Phelan, now in New York. Phelan
was elected to the mayoralty three
times, and he filled the office with
credit. Phelan is a close personal
friend of Rudolph Spreckels, and tho
he has declared that he could not ac-
cept the office at this time, it is
thought certain that if it were offered
he could be induced to take up the
work Under his charge the rehabili-
taton of the city would be stimulated,
and the credit Of the municipality
would be restored.
Mayor Schmitz and Abe Ruef were
indicted last November, charged with
extorting money from the proprietors
of several French restaurants in San
Francisco.
There were five counts in each in
dictment and all were for money ex-
torted from the French restaurant pro-
prietors. Two were for extorting mon
ley from Antonio b. Blaneo, proprietor
of the new Poodle Dog restaurant
which before the fire was a blaze of
light every night in the center Of the
tenderloin. at Eddy and Mason streets.
The Indicted men secured $1,175
from Blanco in January, 1906, and ST.
| 900 in February, 1906. The third and
fourth counts were for obtaining the
same amounts from Joseph Malfanti,
proprietor of Delmonico's restaurant,
in O'F'arrell street, and from his part
ners, Charles kelb and William La
F'renz.
The first indictment is a specimen Of
the Others 1t relates that Eugene E.
Schmitz and Abraham Ruef on Jan.
is, 1905, extorted from Antonio Blan-
co s1,175 by threats that unless he
paid them the money and promised to
pay $1,000 in addition one year from
that date, he would not obtain Ii
cense, and that Schmitz and Ruef
would prevent him from carrying on
his business. The second charges that
Blanco paid $1,000 on Feb. 8, 1906.
The so-called restaurants were a
com bination of eating and lodging
houses and liquor resorts. The agita-
ton for their suppression two years
ago apparently reached the city Of
ficials and orders were issued that they
be deprived of licenses. which would
close them. The doors remained locked
for short time, and then the res
taurants were permitted to reopen with
some restrictions." Soon the houses
were again in full sway along the old
lines.
Mayor Schmitz's election as mayor
of San Francisco in 1901 gave him ma
tional prominence, as he was one of the
most unique figures that ever appeared
in American politics. He was not a
laboring man, artho he led the union
labor party. He was, in fact, mu-
stefan, the leader Of the orchestra at
San Francisco theater Altho that
was his profession, he had as an out
side venture acquired control OF the
Economist Gas Engine company. When
the Klondike gold rush began In 1897,
Schmitz chartered steamer and took
Ii to the Yukon as a business venture.
Schmitz became allied with union
labor interests in 1885, when he was
elected secretary of the Musicians un-
ion. a position he held for fifteen years.
In 1880 he became president of the un-
ion.
During the machinists' strike in 1901
Schmitz granted the demands of his
employees in the Economist gas engine
works, while all other employers held
out against the demands of the strik'
ers.
Then. in 1901, came the great strike
OF machinists, teamsters and long