Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-10-19
Says He Was Not Implicated
In Any Scheme to Kid
nap Abraham Ruef
At Frisco.
.HENEY Says THERE
WILL Be INDICTMENTS
Grand Jury Treated to PyroteChniC
Displays Frequently----Power
Company President Tells His
Story of That $4,000 He
Got From Brown.

San Francisco, Cal, Oct. 19.-The
grand jury which has been listening
to evidence concerning the immature
incubation of the plot to kidnap Alb
raham Ruef, has been hearing more
pyrotechnical speeches than anything
else.
The investigation has been enliven-
ed by some fever scenes both in the
grand jury room and the anteroom
of the inqusitorial chamber, in which
Assistant District Attorney Francis J.
Heney became involved in several
torrid disputes with witnesses from
whom he was seeking enlightenment
on this and other kidnapping exploits
of recent date. James Mcdonald,
president of the Newman Light and
Power company, who is accused by
the prosecution of being implicated
in the scheme to wrest Ruef from the
custody of Elisor Bggy's guards and
convey him, bound and gagged, to a
prison shack In some mountain re-
treat, was one of those who became
involved in wordy combat with the
noted prosecutor.
Wanted EXPENSE Paid.
81 would like to know who is go
ing to pay my expenses while | am
here in town and away from my busi-
ness" demanded Mcdonald, on en-
erging from the grand jury room,
somewhat ruffed and in a bad hu-
NOR.
"We'll find that out later" retorted
Henry. "You had better to go to
Luther Brown and get your expenses.
We may have an indictment for you,
and then you will not need any ex-
penses."
'Thank you. That is very poor
way the prosecution has of doing
h.n rfNt.a , ..Afg t1n Agt IANa .f
the Newman Power company. after
which he proceeded to express his
feelings in terms that were rich in
1 feeling.
From the dialogue it is to be in
ferred that some indictments will be
forthcoming before many days.
| He Accuses Mcdonald
According to the testimony of Il. r.
Newsom, who, previous to becoming
one of Detective Burns men, was led
| to take a hand in the plot to kidnap
| Ruef, James Mcdonald was the front
and back as well as the top and bot
| tom and both sides of the scheme to
abduct the fallen eX-boss, managing
the affair for j. G. Brown, who is de-
clared to be a United Railroads de-
tective. Mcdonald Indignantly denies
having had any connection with or
| knowledge of the plot" and de-
nounces all who have endeavored to
| implicate him in the enterprise Nc
| Donald's story, as he told it yesterday
| afternoon after being before the
grand jury, is as follows:
"It is dirty frame-up. Merely be-
cause l went to see j. c. Brown and
Luther Brown on private business
| they have brought me into this thing,
which / think is but the creation of
a disordered imagination. In the
| first place, three years ago my broth
los 40
Newman Light and Power company.
When the price of oil was raised from
| 60 cents to 81 barrel it became alb
| solutely necessary for us to shut down
| the plant at IL o'clock instead Of
continuing all night This man New
som had been refused a position by
us because he was incompetent. When
we shut down he went around among
| the saloon keepers of Newman cir
culating a petition to discontinue
using our power, and went over to
| Modesto to try to arrange for another
| power line.
Accused by Hcney.
"As far as my being implicated
with Luther Brown, it was brought
| about by my being in the field for
| money to advance our business. My
| brother Jack and l went to San Fran
| cisco, hunting high and low to raise
$4,000 or $4,000 on our holdings. l
|
| the name of the Sierra Power COM
pany going TO build a line into that
! territory. | went to the office OF the
concern and met j. c. Brown. He
! introduced me to Luther Brown. Both
| were representatives Of the company.
| We secured the $4,000 and mort
gagged our property.
"'You got that $4,000 to kidnap
Ruef,' said Heney to my face in the
| jury room. NeWsom was brought in
| to the case in this way: | was work
/ ing for Frank Maestretu here in
| June and July, and NewsOm was en-
| plOyed as a detective 10 go around
and get information as 10 the forming
I Of political club at that time,
"Newsom came TO my house at 521
! Page street in July and borrowed
I$1O. When Newsom was at my house
j. G. Brown was there also in con-
neCtlon with my own business, and
| / introduced them to each other That
! is an / know Of this kidnapping plot"
Brother on Stand.
| John McDOnaIu, brother of the wit
ness, who was with him at the time
| he made the statement COrroborated
| the explanation.
Il suggested to my brother that he
go and see the Sierra Light and Pow
| er Company" said John Mcdonald.
| There he met Brown, who was con-
nected with the concern. We did not
| have money enough at the time to
| increase our business and so the ar
| rangements were made with Luther
| Brown for the $4,000 mortgage, as
/ the records of Modesto will show"
Mcdonald said that the character