The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-05-16
With Streaming Tears the
San Francisco Boss
Pleads Guilty

supervisors. ii the supervisors would
, call at the United Railroads Offices, and
suppose that those supervisors trooped
> up there 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
Railroads came to me, a lawyer and a
political leader, and asked me to ne
cept a fee to manage the matter for
them. suppose refused. Suppose then
these supervisors got wind that there
was money to be had and | found out
that they meant To get It. Would
still refuse To handle the matter for
them and see my machine smashed, or
would | accept the fee and connive ut
the corruption?
4 have not said tn YOU that Patrick
Calhoun or Thornwcll Mullal1y or the
officials of the two telephone companies
or anybody has committed the crimes
charged against them. | have not made
any confession. but | repeat; Some of
the many upon whom has fallen the
SCOT Of this newspaper conflagration
were innocent of evil intent. but be-
came involved through compulsion, and
these men shall ont be made to suffer
further shame and disgrace by any con
| fession of mine. others there are who
went into the smoke with their eyes
open, Knowing fun well what they were
about and as to these | shall speak
! freely and fully when the time comes
Mr. Burns of the prosecution (who
! supported Ruef for few minutes
while he was making this statemenD
has just now asked me If l were will
| ing to go before the grand jury this
afternoon and tell all. | told him | GER
tainly was not. | don't give damn for
the grand jury. Why should l? But
there is this about it: When l have
shaped my course and made up my
mind in every particular as to how
shall act, then I'll be willing to go be-
fore the grand jury or before William
j. Burns or Heney or anybody they
may appoint and tell them what I have
decided to tell.
Il have no doubt that my action of
today. my determination to face about,
and my future actions in this regard,
will serve with very many people to
brand me a turn-coat and coward.
can only declare and maintain that
my motives are good. l am aware that
have many enemies. some very bitter
and very powerful I hope that ! have,
| IOOI lllSHuS- nav liSNSi HaA'$A
man down. have helped many a
man up There are 5000 persons in this
/ city now occupying positions gained for
them through my help. which are pay
/ ing higher salaries than ever they be-
fore knew anything about No one
+ of then ever paid me dollar for the
service [ rendered them, no one of
+ them euev contributed at my request
or hy MY cause a single dollar 10 4.
canpuifn (tnd.
one Wed hnally mover in IN"
lii,. did a wrong ",Noi p -
a ,1s.n dot.i. / never AK s3 t;r''
+ ] never sought fee | never took
dollar from the public. | have been
guilty and I confess It, with more t7no-
ton than you can see. of connlv1nce
at corrupt acts For my guilt, insofar
as am guilty | must suffer and | am
ready 10 accept the penalty, whatever II
may he But of many things the press
4 has so bitterly and SO relentlesaly
charged against me. | am as innocent
as you are This Is true of many others
! beside my self who also have been
4 made to feel the tlame of unfair accn-
| sation.
Assistant District Attorney Francis
j Hency was probably as much aston
| fSHPu an anyone ny Ithtl y lhciHB dbbut
in open court, with all its attendari
! possibilities Of municipal exposure.
we" said Mr. Hcney, meaning thf
I prosecution. had not the least intim:t-
ton that this was to come | have no
comment whatever Ia make upon Mr..
Ruefs action The Investigations b,
the grand jury will continue"
one of the first callers on Rucf to-
day after the mornings sensational
4 episode. was District Attorney william
! Iangdon He went To the Fillmore
I street prison house early In the after
noon and was at once admitted to
/ Rucfs room lie took the latter by
the hand warmly and said:
You did manly thing. want 10
tel you now that anything the prose-
cntion can properly do for you Will he
done willingly, gladly"
Ruof requested the newspaper men
who called ON him To NpresS for him
his deep appreciation Of the considela-
tion and courtesy that as been cnntin-
! nousy shown him by hie chief jailer,
Elisor W G. Riggy He has been
good 10 me-" said Ruef; Just as good
as the law allows.
To the Associated Press. Patrick Cal
houn. president Of the United Rail
roads. said
Il have nothing To say At present re
eardirg the reported confession of Alb
raham Ruef.
Further efforts To draw from The
railroad president any expression re
earding the Ruef ease were fruitless
The state supreme court this after
noon. upon stipulation submitted by
Ruef's former attorneys dismissed the
apnlioation for release from custody