Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-18
Charge Made That Malice
Prompted the Recent
Investigation
Ruef's Charges Held to Be False and
Rudolph Spreckels Accused of
Various Underhanded
Acts
BY. Associated Press.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 17-Patrick
Calhoun, president of the United Rail-
roads, whose name has been mentioned
in connection with the investigation OF
bribery of municipal officers in this
city, today issued the following state
ment:
ITO the American people: The news
papers of this city published yesterday
afternoon and this morning contain
sensational statements purporting to
give the testimony of Abraham Ruef
before the grand jury yesterday after
noon. 1t Is alleged that he confessed
that the United Railroads, through
some of it's officials, bribed the super
visors to grant the permit for the over
head trolley over certain of its rail-
roads.
II do not know If Mr.. Ruef made any
such statements. If he did they are
untrue. 1 repeat with renewed empha-
sis my former declaration that no Off
cial of this company ever bribed any
one. authorized Mr.. Ruef or any one
else to bribe anybody, knew Of any
bribery or approved of any bribery.
II charge the prosecution with hav-
ing prostituted the great office of the
district attorney to further the plans
OF private malice in the interest of a
man who organized the municipal street
railways of San Francisco on the 17th
day of April 1906, the day before the
earthquake and fire, with a capital
stock OF $14,000,000, of which $4,500,000
were subscribed for as follows:
"Claus Spreckels subscribed $780, 600.
james D. Phelan subscribed ST.
600. 900.
George Whittel subscribed $500,000.
Rudolph Spreckels subscribed ST.
100000
"Charles s. Wheeler subscribed 100000.
"Ten per cent, or $450,000, was paid in
cash, as shown by the affidavit of the
treasurer of the company, James K.
Moffatt, duly filed in the county clerks
office.
Scores Private Prosecutor
"I charge that in furtherance of the
plans of the private prosecutor to Sc
cure evidence that would involve the
United Railroads the district attorney
has been willing to purchase immunity
to self-confessed criminals, which con-
tracts / am informed were placed In
escrow with the private prosecutor, and
through which he controls majority
of the board Of supervisors who as
member of the prosecution has de-
clared, are dogs to do his bidding.
"I charge that the district attorney
was in consultation with the members
of the self-confessed criminals on the
board of supervisors in regard to the
passage of the resolution holding up the
Geary Street Railroad company, and
providing for the forfeiture of its Ii
cense unless it yielded to the demands
Of it's striking employees.
II charge that while the best element
of this community were seeking to pre-
serve law and order, the district attor-
ney was in secret conference with self
confessed criminals. giving aid and
comfort to the strikers. Shall his great
office be prostituted to the support of
laWlessness?
1.-THE officials of this company are
ready to meet their enemies in the open
and before they are through they ex-
pect to show to the whole country the
infamy of the methods of the prosecu-
ton, the baseness of the motives of the
private prosecutor, his readiness to
grant immunity to self-confessed GRIM
inals, and the willingness of the prose-
cution to aid the strikers even If 1t in
volved this community in disorder ana
bloodshed, provided it further the pri-
vate prosecutors personal ends.
"The organization of the municipal
street railways OF San Francisco, the
attacks upon officials of the United
Railroads, the immunity granted to
self-confessed criminals, the strike of
Street Railroad company, the forfeit
ure of it's license to operate, all seek
one common end-the injury of the
United Railroads and its officials and
the advancement of the personal
schemes of the private prosecutor.
'I ask from the American people fair
play and patient consideration. 1 ask
them to withhold their judgment freed
from the bias naturally created by
sensational charges. The contest in
which 1 am engaged is grave, and I
cannot afford now to disclose the whole
strength of my hand but before this
contest is over 1 confidently expect to
defeat alike the Vaccinations of Ru
dolph spreckels, the private prosecutor,
with his corps of hired detectives, and
Mr.. Cornelius, president of the Garments
union. the leader of anarchy and law
Iessness. and to see firmly esta blished in
this community the principles of Amer
ican liberty and the triumph of truth
and justice"