The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-23
suef Says Government By H.
tictnent Not Injunction
OFFICERS NOT TRUSTED
What ls to Be Done for the Safekeep.
ing of San Franciseo's Political
Boss and Roodling
Supervisors?

San Francisco, March 22.-It was stated
today at the prosecuting attorney S Office
that Patrick Calhoun. president OF the
United Railways company, will upon his
arrival here from New York, be given
an opportunity to appear before the
grand jury in connection with alleged
bribery of the board of supervisors in
the matters of an overhead trolley fran
chise 81 anted the United Railways last
May.
From the same source it was also
learned that the indictments which have
not even been trusted to the secret
file for fear that their contents might leak
out are not all against one person.
Abraham Ruef said today that he is
considering making a statement to the
public and he declared that when he
tells his story it will contain sensations
equal to the disclosures made by the
alleged confessions of the supervisors He
expressed the opinion that the investiga-
ton is in furtherance of an organized at
tempt to seize the municipal government,
and asserted that it is government by
Indictment instead of government by
Injunction
The sixty-five charges of bribery against
Ruef were today assigned by Presiding
Judge Coffey to Judge DUNES depart
ment of the superior court. They will
be placed on the calendar tomorrow,
and arraignment set for some day early
next week. To avoid possible conflict be-
tween the chief of police or sheriff and
El-sor Biggy, no bench warrants will be
issued on these indictments.
1t may be the irony of tate that the
former residence of Mayor Schmitz, in
which he resided when elected, and where
he OTTER, entertained aud dined Rnef and
where they laid many o. their campaign
pAssgassht pAsgsh nass, an92 eAfs' Is pft i = e L. r.
! sor Biggy as place of detention tor
Ruef.
The true reason for the determination
or the prosecution to take no Immediate
steps towards removing the supervisors
from office was disclosed this after
noon. District Attorney Langdon stated
that In order to remove them it would be
necessary to prove the charges against
them. This would compel the prosecu-
ton to bring forward all its evilence.
and thereby disclose its entire hand be-
lore the trial Of those who are, or will
be indicted.
Assistant District Attorney Heney de-
clared that the mayor having the appoint
I've power could I'LL the vacancies created
by the removal of the supervisors with
men on whom the investigation had no
hold.
To overcome this it would be necessary
first to remove the mayor, and this Heney
admitted, the prosecution is In no position
as yet to do.
The grand jury did not meet today. but
Will hold short session tomorrow. when
Investigation of the alleged telephone deal
VIII be resumed. No indictments are ex-
pected tomorrow.
Officers Not Trusted.
Elisor Biggy will have conference with
Judge Dunno at which 1t will be decided
what will be done with Ruef in view of
the fact that the prosecution does not
trust either the police or sheriffs officers.
One Of the principal questions now be-
ing forced on the attention of the district
attorneys office, is what is to be done
with the alleged boodling supervisors. No
immediate steps to remove them from Of
flee will be taken.
Assistant District Attorney Heney saii
today that he had nothing to do with this
matter, his work being prosecutions.
District Attorney Langdon said:
Nothing positive can be stated at pres
ent with reference to the tenure of Of
lice of supervisors. We are deep in an
investigation which leads to greatly more
important personages than the whole
board of supervisors. In due time our at
tention will be directed to the members
of the board
The grand jury will lreconvene tomor-
row to resume investigation of the al
legged telephone graft. 1t is expected that
a few minor indictments may be returned
tomorrow in this connection. but Detec-
tive Burns says 1t Is improbable that any
more indictments will be handed in this
week
Mayor Schmitz denied himself to all
visitors today.