Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21
SUPERVISORS AXE SWEATED
Heney and Burns Put Them Through
a Trying Ordeal.
WILL LET SMALL FRY ALONE
Burns Denies That Any Agreement
Had Been Entered Into
With Schmitz.

SAN FRANCISCO. March 21.-The indict-
ments returned yesterday against the al
legged municipal bribers followed skillful
work by Attorney Heney and Detective
Burns during the past week or ten days.
The entering wedge was driven when Su-
pervisors Longergan and Boxton were al
legged to have been trapped several days
ago by Heney and Burns in the act of TAX
ing a small bribe. The confession of all
grating with which they had been connect
ed was followed last Sunday by the con-
fession of Sanderson to Heney at Palo
Alto. Sanderson, who was former school
mate of Heney. went to Arizona several
months ago and when he returned he was
met by Heney. When confronted by the
latter with evidence already in hand. San
derson reluctantly admitted his part in
the taking of brides. With the confessions
Of these three supplemented by a mass of
Information obtained from other sources,
the remainder of the supervisors. except
J. j. Furey were summoned before the
grand jury Monday.
All Wanted to Tell.
When confronted by the confessions OF
their colleagues. it is said, 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 II o'clock in the morning until
after midnight, and made most sensational
disclosures of bribery and corruption. 1t
vas largely on this information that yes
terday's indictments were returned.
George Duffey formerly supervisor but
now president of the public works, has been
called. 1t is said that Duffey, who has
been heretofore regarded as one of the
guiltless members of the board. is willing
In fact. anxious-to make a clean breast in
order to obtain immunity. This. A4fowever
has not yet been granted TO him and will
depend, according to Heney. upon condition
that he also tell of the alleged corruption
IN the board of public works, where as
founding conditions are said to prevail.
While neither Heney nor Langdon will admit
that the supervisors were promised i'm
munity from prosecution If they confessed,
1t is practically certain that they will not
be proceeded against
No Small Fry Prosecutions.
In order to convict the bride givers. who
Heney and Burns declare are the actual
criminals. il is appa rent that no attempt
will be made TO prosecute the small fry If
the latter will give such information as it
may have. Burns last night refused to dis
cuss the report that even Ruef had been
promised partial immunity if he would con-
TESS, and thereby enable the prosecution to
trace the brides said to have been handled
by Ruef back to the officials of the public
service corporation in such a manner as to
secure their conviction.
Burns however. deplored the fact that
such report had been circulated, and
spoke of how often the newspapers of the
city had embarrassed. obstructed and re-
tarded his work during this investiga ton
He vehemenIy denied that agreement had
been entered into with Mayor Schmitz
Although twenty seven indictments have
so far been returned in connection with
the alleged telephone graft Burns asserted
that the proving OF that alleged graft had
been just begun. During the grand Jury
session yesterday afternoon f. z. thinner
and former Auditor Shcrwn of the Pacific
States Telephone and Telegraph Company
were under fire thinner admits that he
was closely questioned about affairs of the
telephone company while he had charge of
the books, and was also interrogated about
former General \ gent II alsey