The San Francisco call., 1908-04-22
GALLAGHFR'S TALE
is BAD FOR FORD
Head of Boodling Board Tells
Again of the Trolley
Bribery

Big Jim" Gallagher, ringmaster OF
the Ruef- -Schmitz board of supervisors
was on the witness stand in Judge
Lawlor's court during the trial OF TREY
l.. Ford yesterday and the chair became
seat of torture both for hlmSeI ana
for the defense, for on direct exam1na-
tion the witness gave most damaging
direct testimony against the defendant
and In turn was subjected TO Dltler
cross examination by Attorney a. a
Moore. who laid bare the ambitious but
miserable public career of the ex-
supervisor and boodler.
Gallaghers infamous story, as re-
cited yesterday, was 1dentlcal III lts
material points with the story ne had
told at the previous trials of Ford, and
while Moore strove cunningly he couid
not wreck the narrative.
What was the most damaging 1act
produced to connect Ford with the
bribery conspiracy was Gallagher's ev-
idence that at about the time the OllVer
grand jury was beginning its work
he and Ford conferred over a note
which the latter had yainly sought 10
send to Ruef. On being unable to de-
liver the note, Gallagher returned 1t
to Ford, who had him open it. The
note had mentioned the charges con-
corning the United Railroads fran
chise, Gallagher remembered. and
warned Ruef that the supervisors
might be trapped by the graft prosecu-
tion. Ford had told Gallagher that he
was simply passing on warning that
had been given him by friend
USES MAGAZINE STORY
Lincoln Steffens' article in the last is
sue of the American Magazine, in which
the trapping of the supervisors by Will
liam j. Burns, with the aid of G. r.
Roy, was set forth in detail, furnished
A. A. Moore with much food for cross
examination.
Daniel G. Coleman was on the stand
when the case opened yesterday morn
ing. He was examined in redirect by
Assistant District Attorney O'Gara and
then Moore took him in hand again.
Moore produced the affidavit made by
Ruef and the supervisors at the time
the boss was endeavoring to GUST Dis
trict Attorney Langdon and Assistant
District Attorney Heney from their Of
fetal positions, and thus prevent the
graft prosecution from cleaning the
city. Coleman admitted signing the
document, which declared that the su-
pervisors were perfectly moral and law
abiding.
Then O'Gara called James l.. CAL
lagher to the stand. OGara developed
Gallaghers large part in the United
Railroads Doodle payments. He told
of being approached by Ruef on the
subject of the overhead trolley fran
chise before the big fire, and later
sounding the members of the board on
their views on the franchise and prom
ising them 81 900 each for their vote
Ruef had asked him to find what it
would cost to secure the passage of the
bill. The witness was to get S15, 600
and Supervisor Wilson $4,000, the 9TH
ers on the board to get $4,000 apiece.
Ruef paid Gallagher sS5,O00 and that
was distributed among the boodlers.
MOORE CROSS EXAMINES
Shortly after noon Moore began his
cross examination. First he declared
that at the previous trials Gallagher
had not testified that he had spoken
to Coleman about the franchise in ad
vance of its passage.
Then Moore, by questions, harassed
the witness
"You are just in the prime of life,
rotund and cheerful?" he sarcastically
threw at the disgraced man in the wit
ness chair. You have relations here
in honorable station?" he went on.
drawing reluctant answers from the
yer, you were associated with
James G. Mcguire, at one time
a congressman. later prominent
candidate for governor? You were
city attorney, you were head of
the order of Native Sons of the Golden
West. head OF the entire order?" Moore
twitted him with his aspirations to be
superior Judge and justice Of the dis
trict court of appeal. After all the
story had been unfolded Moore said,
IF you haven't been a higherup you have
been as high up as you could get,
haven't your
THAT is correct" replied Gallagher.
Then Moore took up with great de-
tail the relations of the witness with
Roy, who aided in the trapping of
Lonergan and Boxton. The witness
said Roy had promised him $1,000 as
Doodle about that time, but the bribe
had never been paid.
In his cross examination Gallagher
said that Ruef had told him that he
(Rue) would prepare the trolley ordi-
nance and send copy of it to the
board.
The day closed with Moore sounding
Gallagher on his relations with Rudolph
Spreckels, their conference at the Pre-
sidio before Gallagher's confession, and
the offers of immunity.
Gallagher will be on the stand again
today.