The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-24


Back Up Ach With
Verbosity
Henry Ach. chief attorney
=? ?? of counsel.
Frank Murphy of counsel.
Senator George Keane of counsel.
Richard o'connor of counsel.
This is probably the way Abe Ruef's
legal fighting force will line up when
his trial is finally called before Judge
Lawlor. There remains to be filed
the gap created by the withdrawal OF
Samuel M. Shortridge, who was asso-
ciate member of counsel at the former
trial of the ex-boss until Ruef entered
his plea OF guilty to the extortion in
dictment on which he was then being
tried
Ruef admitted yesterday that Ach's
name has been under consideration and
1T is practically assured that the pend
ing negotiations will be completed and
that Ach will undertake to bear the
brunt of the battle in Ruef's defense.
Who will be chosen to fill the Short
ridge vacancy is still an open question.
MAKE HASTE SLOWLY
At the former trial the great battle
Of the defense was for delay. and Ach
and Shortridge constituted remark
able team. Ach is the shrewd techni-
clan, and his constant qufbbling over
seemingly unessentiaf twists of the law
dovetailed with Shortridge's power Of
long drawn eloquent argument to drag
the preliminaries of the trial out to an
almost interminable length and afforded
broad opportunity for error to creep
into the record
There is little doubt that the tactics
of the defense at the coming trial will
be of similar nature, but if they are
to be successful to any degree it will
be necessary for Ach to have some at
torney at his side who can plunge into
the debate when ii passes from the
technical stage into broader lines of
argument. No hint has been given as
to who this attorney viii be. but it
was learned yesterday from Ruef's
friends that the exboss does not expect
to carry his search out of San Fran
cisco.
1t is practically assured that neither
Shortridge nor C. H. Fairall. who were
associated with Ruef's defense at the
first trial, again will become members
of his counsel. Both retired after he
had entered his plea OF guilt, and no
overtures have been made to them by
Ruef since the new turn in his af-
fairs has again brought him face to
face with the necessity of defending
himself on criminal charge before a
jury. Murphy, Keane and O'Connor
out the entire time of his imprison-
ment, and will be associated with his
defense
RUFF CONSIDERS ACH
Ach was at the Temple Israel yester-
day morning while Ruef was in court
and was in consultation with him for
some time afterward A man who is
close to Ruef stated later in the day
that the negotiations with Ach practi-
cally We're complete. while Ruef him.
self said last night:
"Ach is one of the attorneys whom
have been considering as a possible
member of my counsel, but | have moth
ing to give out concerning any ar
rangements as yet"
Last night Ach leftfor Los Angeles.
which is significant in view of the
statement made by Keane in court
Wednesday to the effect that the at
torney chosen to take charge of Ruef's
case would have to be in Los Angeles
for a trial which is to begin this morn
ing. Ruef will appear at o'clock this
afternoon before Judge Lawlor and a.
definite date for beginning his trial
will then be set.
More than usual interest was taken
in Ruers appearance before Judge
@cptSIuc9 IDir~ sentence on the
charge of extortion to which he pleaded
guilty, as it was the first calling of
the case since the fallen boss definitely
broke with the prosecution. The pro-
ceedings, however, were as formal and
brief as on any of. the other occasions
on which he has appeared for sentence
within the last six months George
Keane suggested continuance for a /
week, Assistant District Attorney Cook
said he had no objection and Judge
Dunno made the order accordingly. The
other three extortion cases against
Ruef were also continued week.
After the adjournment of court Ruef
consulted for some time with Ach and
then went into a long conference with
Rabbi Nieto in the latter's Office at the
Temple Israel