The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-03-23
INDICTED E0R GRAFT
San Francisco Grand Jury Returns
IS True Bills.
AMAZING STORY OF CORRUPTION

Abraham Ruef, the Political Leader,
Collected and Distributed Thousands
Of Dollars In Brides to Secure Fran.
chises For Corporations.
San Francisco, March 2l.-The long
looked-for indictments in the munich
pal graft cases have been returned.
The grand jary filed with Presiding
Judge Coffey. OF the superior court -
indictments. charging bribery, which
were found on evidence presented TO
the grand jury after six maA'hs' prob
lug in the municipal AFFAIRS OF THIS
city by Assistant District Attorney
Francis J. Heney and Secret Service
Agent w. j. Burns. and which reveal
an amazing story OF alleged graft and
corruption.
OF the - indictments returned. %
are against Abraham Ruef. for years
| leading politician OF San Francisco,
charging him with bribing the board
of supervisors to grant franchises to
! the United Railroads. the Home Tele-
phone company. the San Francisco
Gas & Electric company and the so
called prize fight trust
Ten are against T. V. Halsey. for
merly general agent of the Pacific
States Telephone & Telegraph com
pany. who is charged with having
bribed the supervisors not to grant
franchise to a rival company
OF the CJ counts Of bribery against
Ruef. If are in connection with the
granting OF the overhead trolley fran
chise 10 the United Railroads ccm-
pany Immediately after the earthquake
and fire OF last April Seventeen are
based upon the money alleged to have
been spent by the gas company TO pro-
cure an 50 cent gas rate az against
| - cent rae. Is refer 10 the alleged
passing of money by the Home Iele-
phone company 10 obtain franchise
for bid of $4,000. and which it has
been declared was worth at least 81.
GOO 900. and Is indictments are based
upon the alleged bribing OF the super
visors by Ruef to grant fight permits
only to the so.called fight trust OF this
city. which is composed OF Eddie
Graney Morris Levy, James Cofroth
and Willis Britt
Judge Cofcy fixed the bail at $40
600 on each indictment, or a total OF
$3.50. 600 for Ruef, and 100000 for
Ialsey
In the overhead trolley deal. Ruef.
according 10 Burns got $4S5.OO0 from
the United Railroads. Of which Ruef
Is alleged TO have divided $4,000. or
this amount $1,000 is said TO have been
given 10 each OF II supervisors; two
received Sl0.000 each and one $4,000.
In the restricting OF boxing permits
to the fight trust the indictments
charge that $500 was given to each
Of IS supervisors. or total OF $4,000,
although a fund OF 100000 was said
TO have been collected for Ruef.
In the alleged deal by which the
gas company got an 81 cent rate. Sl2,-
600. it is charged. was divided among
lG OF the supervisors in sums OF 800
each. Besides the $4,000 bid for It's
franchise. Ruef is charged with hay
ing divided among - OF the city faith
ers $50 600 received from the Home
Telephone company for the granting
Of a franchise In this connection, IA
of the supervisors are alleged to have
taken $4,000 each from Halsey to pre-
vent the granting OF the franchise to
the Home company.
Assistant District Attorney Heney
said that this batch OF indictments
was the beginning Of the end Of
Ruef," but merely the beginning Of the
work OF exposing municipal corrup-
ton in San Francisco. and the prose
cution of those high up" who are re.
sponsible for such conditions in the
city Of San Francisco.