Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-16

commit the crime of bribery rather than
forego the thing they need.
And so 1t goes. Suppose that the
united Railroads sent word that there
was $4,000 or $4,000 apiece for the super
visors If the supervisors would call at
the United Railroads offices. And sup
pose that those supervisors trooped up
tnere one by one and took the dirty
money. Such an Arrangement would
mean almost instant exposure and
scandal and absolute defeat of the end
sought.
But suppose that the United Rail
roads came to me. a lawyer and
political leader, and asked me to ac-
cept a fee to manage the matter for
them. Suppose 1 refused. Suppose,
then, these supervisors got wind that
there was money to be had and 1 found
out that they meant to get IL, would I
still refuse to handle the matter for
them and see my machine smashed, or
would l accept the fee and connive at
the corruption?
I have not said to you that Patrick
Calhoun or Thernwell Mutually or the
officials of the two telephone companies
or anybody has committed the crimes
charged against them. have not made
any confession. but l repeat, some of
the many upon whom has fallen the
SCOT of this newspaper conflagration
were innocent of evil intent, but be-
came involved by compulslon, and these
men shall not be made to suffer fur
ther shame and disgrace by any con-,
fesson of mine.
"Others there are who went into the
smoke with their eyes open, knowing
full we'll what they were about, and
as to these l shall speak freely and
fully when the time comes.
Mr.. Burns of the prosecution" who
Interrupted Ruef for few minutes
while he was making this statement.
has just now asked me If I We're will
ing to go before the grand jury this
afternoon and tell ALL" 1 told him 1
certainly was not. I don't give a damn
for the grand jury. Why shoulde1?
But there is this about it: When I
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 ]. Burns or Heney or anybody
they may appoint and tell them what 1
have decided to tell.
Ready to Pay Penalty
"One word finally. / never in my life
did man q wrong. I never pulled
man down. 1 never asked a favor.
never sought a fee. I never took a dol
lar from the public. have been guilty,
and 1 confess it with more emotion than
you can see, of connivance at corrupt
acts. For my guilt, insofar as I am
guilty I must suffer; and l am ready
to accept the penalty whatever it may
be. But of many things the press has
so bitterly and so relentlessly charged
against me am as innocent as are you.
This is true of many others besides
myself who also have been made to feel
the flame of unfair accusation"
Assistant District Attorney Francis J.
Heney was probably as much aston
ished as any one by Ruef's facing about
in open court, with all its attendant
possibilities of municipal exposure.
"We," said Mr.. Heney, meaning the |
prosecution, "had not the least intima-
ton that this was to come. 1 have no |
whatever to make upon Mr.. |
Ruef's actions. The investigat tions by !
the grand jury will continue"
One of the first callers on Ruef to-
lay after the mornings sensational cpl
;ode was District Attorney William
Langdon. He went to the Fillmore
street prison house early in the after
noon and was at once admitted to
Ruef's room. He shook the latter by
he hand warmly and said You did a
manly thing. I want to tell you now
hat anything the prosecution can prop
erly do for you will be done willingly,
gladly
Bouquet for Biggy
Ruef requested the newspapermen |
who called on him to express for him
mis- deep appreciation of the considera-
lion and courtesy that have been con-
.inuously shown him by his chief 1ailer,
Elisor w. J. Biggy.
HE has been good to me-" said Ruef
inst ia good as the law allows"
The state supreme court this after
loon, upon stipulation submitted by
2uef's former attorneys, dismissed the
APPLICATION for release from custody by
writ of habeas corpus, so that as the
natter stands it is for superior judge
O decide whether the fallen political
,oss shall remain prisoner in the Fill
more street house or be set at liberty
lnder bail.