The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-12-05
Testimony of Go Between Is
Needed as Connect
ing Link
DEMANDS HIGH PRICE
Ruef Wants Immunity as
Reward for Convicting
Bribe Givers

Patrick Calhoun, president of the
United Railroads and the towering
figure among all the alleged corrup-
tionists, against whom the graft Cruz
ssde of the past year has been wsged,
will 60 TO trial at $3.50 O'Clock this
morning in Judge Lswlor's court on
a charge Of having bribed former
Supervisor Thomas Lonergsn in con-
nection with the ordinance for an
overhead trolley franchise. In view
of the soquittal Tuesday of TREY L.
Ford on q charge similar to that
which Calhoun is to face today, one
question of overshadowing interest
and importance is raised by the be-
ginning of this trial. Will Ruef be
called by the prosecution as witness?
IN the answer TO this question may
lie the fs-e Of the future OF the graft
prosecution IN San Francisco. Abra-
ham Ruef. once political boss OF the
CITY and now admitted thief and con
victed boodler, is st1I q factor to be
reckoned with. Through the long
months OF his Imprisonment in the Gus
tody OF an elisor Ruefs mind has lost
none OF It's crafty cunning. Though
apparently defeated IN his last effort
70 prevent bis Imprisonment as a felon
and inevitably doomed TO serve his
tine IN san Quentin, Ruef has never
given UP his fight; instead he has for
tined himself IN a position which he
now believes must bring him complete
immunity IN spite Of his many crimes.
IMMUNITY Is RUEFsS PRICE
without his testimony Ruef is con-
vinced that the prosecution VIII never
be able 70 convict the majority Of the
wealthy bribe givers now under In
5ictuent: with his testimony at their
disposal he knows that the prosecuting
officials can make good their every
promise to place the corruptionists Of
the public Service corporations behind
the bars OF the penitentiary. He has
calculated the probabilities OF the va
rlous cases 10 a nicely, and has named
his price. That price is his own com
plete immunity.
Ruef is running no mere, meaning
less bluR in thus demanding his abb
solute freedom before he viii unseal
his lips IN testimony against the bribe
givers, for even though his price is
refused by the prosecution he still
looks forward TO gain rather than loss
.--rr TTrbe-e F-sD1~ s-,,+t f,,7 yeSS
might bring him freedom the arch
criminal knows that silence and i'm
prisonmeDt can command the price Of
millions IN financial gain. His refusal
TO testify against the millionaire bribe
givers may be the means Of saving
them from the very fate that It is sure
TO bring him, and Ruef knows that If
he cannot drive his bargain with the
prosecution he can still wiring any sum
of his own naming from the men who
are in his power. In Ruefs mind 1t IS
nov himself in the balance against q
score OF brIbe givers. Freedom must
come, he believes. to one or the other.
and he trusts that It viii be TO him.
POWER OF PROSECUTION
whether or not Ruef has been given
partial immunity already in return for
bis testimony before the grand jury,
the prosecution has never made known,
but even this does not alter Ruefs po-
sitlon at present. There still remain
enough indictments against him to rem
der. possible A series Of convictions that
could send him TO san Quentin for the
rest OF his life, and this is the one
card held by the prosecution that may
stfII force him into compliance. Should
the complete immunity be refused and
Ruef carry out hts policy Of silence
every charge that now lies against him
would be pushed 10 trial. and trial for
Ruef means conviction. Imprisonment
for the ex-boss does not mean loss Of
reputation, for he has none TO lose; K
does not mean further ignominy. for he
has already been plunged to the depths
OF isnominy. 1t simply means loss Of
freedom. While there is little doubt
that Ruef would undergo a prison SEN
tence OF a few years and gain thereby
= million or two million dollars. there
Is still. a question whether or not any
sum might tempt him TO undertake the
service OF a life sentence behind prison
bars while the alternative rernained 20
him Of accepting partial immunity and
he comparatively short sentence which
the prosecution is undoubtedly willing
TO give.
The prosecution has given no hint
- - p,.. ,. coIumn