Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-21
To Be Continued.
CONFESSION OF RUFF.
San Francisco Boodlsr Yields at Last
to Complete Exposure.

San Francisco Boodlsr Yields at Last
to Complete Exposure.
Abraham Ruef, the San Francisco
boodler, who a few days ago plead
guilty Of extortion, will, it Is said, go
before the grand jury next week and
tell all he knows about the bribery
cases that brought about his downfall,
says dispatch of May 16:
Judge Dunno has consented to con-
tinue Ruef's case two weeks for sem
tence. What punishment will be
meted out to Ruef is not known, nor
is it known just how much immunity
he will gain by his sensational con-
fession of yesterday.
San Francisco hasn't had such
sensation for a good while. When 1t
got rumored about that Abe Ruef had
broken down and pleaded guilty to the
charge of extortion, excited groups Of
citizens gathered in the streets and in
the hotels to discuss the affair. Need
less to say, there were many persons
who were in great fear lest Ruef in
volve them in the growing scandal.
Ruef stood before Judge Dunno and
made an exceedingly impressive
speech. He declared that he had
started in politics with high ideals, but
that conditions had caused him to
fall. His only ambition now was to
make some reparation, he said, and
help root out the scandalous system of
corruption that had fastened on the
government of the city.
AS he talked he showed great emo
ton and upon finishing could scarcely
restrain himself from weeping. His
eyes were filled with tears and his
hands trembled. He opened his ad-
dress by referring to the serious ef-
feet ,the present state of affairs was
having on his family. He said:
This trial has become a threatening
LANCER to my health, both mentally
and physically. l am unable to bear
the strain any longer. The strain on
those nearest and dearest to me Is un-
dermining them. They are on the
the balance and I must take some ac-
ton.
II have occupied a prominent posi-
ton in this city. / hope to remain
here and this will be my eternal Sleep
ing place. Heretofore have borne an
honored name in my professional life.
There has been no stain upon my hon
or, and until the present board of su-
pervisors was elected there was no act
Of mine that could. justly be censured.
Nevertheless, owing to the assaults OF
the press 1 have been placed in
wrong light, and have been burdened
with a bad name.
1T is true that in order to hold to-
gether the political machine which l
had built up with great difficulty 1 did
lower the high political ideal that l
had hitherto upheld. Last night L
reached the conclusion that there
might still be an opportunity to make
an effort to restore myself in the public
favor and be a power for good. l Will
do all that still lies in my power TO
help overthrow the system which mas
made possible the terrible corruption
of public officials. To do this | VIII
work even as the humblest citizen. My
future career will be one of integrity
1 hope that 1 can still achieve some
good.
Il am making the greatest sacrifice
that could befall a human being or
my isposition-namely, to acknowl-
edge faults and mistakes to restore
myself in public favor. Duty calls me
wherever the path may lead, but
want the whole world to know that l
am not guilty of the charge made
against me n this instance. Never
theless on account of the reasons
stated, l withdrew my plea OF not
guilty and entered plea of guilty.