Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-21

total of $4,000, although fund of $780,
| 00c was said to have been collected for
Ruef.
In the alleged deal by which the gas
company was given an S5-cent rate,
$4,000, it is charged, was divided
among sixteen of the supervisors in
sums of $3.50 each, but the amount sup
posed to have been received by Gal
lagher is not known. Besides the $685.
900 bid for it's franchise, Ruef is charged
with having divided among thirteen of
the city fathers he sum of $4,000 re-
ceived from the Home Telephone COM
pany for the granting of a franchise to
install their system in this city.
| In this connection it is noteworthy that
fourteen of the supervisors are alleged
to have also taken $4,000 each from
Halsey to prevent the granting of the
franchise to the Home company, and
It is upon these counts that fourteen
indictments were returned against Hal
sey, only ten of which were filed today.
Ruef Down and Out
The assistant district attorney stated
| that today's indictments were the be-
ginning of the end of Ruef," and
merely the beginning of the work of
exposing the municipal corruption in
San Francisco and the prosecution of
those "high up" who are responsible
for such conditions in this city.
District Attorney Langdon said i'm
mediately after the indictments had
been filed:
1.-The remarkable organization of this
grating and corruption in the munich
pal affairs of San Francisco, it's amaz-
i ing ramifications involving millionaires
and the better class of citizens, will
appall not only this city but the entire
country when it is fully laid bare
This is merely the beginning declared
Secret Service Agent Burns.
1.-THE evidence in the indictments filed
today and others that have been re-
turned but for the present will remain
secret, Is absolutely conclusive and as
perfect as the evidence in any case of
investigation with which 1 have been
connected.
Conditions Astounding
1.-THE bribery, corruption and graft in
the municipal government of San Fran
cisco is simply astounding and almost
unbelievable 1t far surpasses the
boodling cases in St. Louis, and before
we are through with it win rank with
the expose of city officials in Mime
apolis for downright venality and only
be eclipsed by the Tweed ring in New
York in the amount of money involved,
| but not in organization or ramification.
"Ruef acted as broker and agent be-
! tween the corporations and the board of
supervisors in all matters pertaining to
the obtaining of privileges from the
city fathers.
Burns denied that he had been or
dered back to Washington as reported
and declared that it might take an
entire year yet to complete the work
that he and Heney have undertaken
here. He asserted that every depart
ment in the city government would be
| thoroughly investigated.
CONSERVATION in Camp
CONSERVATION seemed to reign in
Ruef's camp today. Following a long
conference with his attorneys this
morning, Ruef decided that he pre-
ferred to remain in the custody of
Elisor Biggy at the st. Francis hotel,
and his attorneys appeared before the
supreme court asking that the applica-
ton for writ making Sheriff O'Neill
the custodian of the political boss be
| dismissed.
This was granted. Half an hour
| later his attorneys again appeared be-
| fore the supreme court and sought to
| have their former action quaShed and
the application for writ reinstated.
The court took the matter under con-
sideration until tomorrow.
The indictments returned today fol-
lowed the clever and indefatigable
work Of Heney and Burns during the
| past week OF Ten udy' Vic SlllSIll5
| wedge was driven " - Supervisors
| Lonergan and BoXton are alleged to
have been trapped several days ago by
Heney and Burns in the act of taking
| a small bribe.
Their confession of all grating with
which they were connected was fol-
| lowed last Sunday by the confession of
| Sanderson to Heney at Patio Alto.
Sanderson, who was formerly a
! schoolmate of Heney's, went to Ari-
| zona several months ago, and upon his
return was met by Heney.
Admits Taking Bribes
| When confronted by the latter with
the evidence already in hand, Sander
son reluctantly admitted his part in the
taking of bribes. With the confess
| sions Of those three supplemented by
a mass Of information obtained from
| other sources the remainder of the SUI
| perVisors, except j, j. Furey, were
| summoned before the grand jury Mon
day. When confronted by the confess
sions Of their colleagues, it is said that
| they literally fell over each other to
| tell all they knew and thereby secure
| possible immunity from prosecution.
| The supervisors were interrogated
and sweated by Heney and Burns from
IL o'clock in the morning until after
midnight, and made the most sensa-
tional disclosures of bribery and cor
ruption. 1t was largely upon this in
formation that today's indictments
were returned and others, which it is
said, are to follow.
Furey was examined today but
George Duffy, formerly a supervisor
but now president of the board OF pub
lie works, has not yet been called.
DUFFY Weakens
It is said that Duty who has here
totore been generally regarded as the
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