The San Francisco call., 1908-11-10
STEVENS IN DANGER
OF BEING INDICTED
GO-Between for Abe Ruef and
Frank Murphy Refuses to
EnIighten Grand Jury
May Have to Face Contempt
lid Conspiracy Charges in
Bribery Case

Martin Stevens. o-between for Abe
Ruef and Frank j. Murphy in their eff
forts to bribe to silence E. A S. Blake,
confessed jury fixer, now stands in i'm
minent danger of being indicted with
Ruef and Murphy on a charge of con-
spiracy TO defeat the ends of justice,
and, furthermore. he is in danger of
contempt of court proceedings. Stew
ems was before the grand jury yester-
day afternoon and cut an abject figure
in his efforts to shield his two asso-
ciates.
District Attorney Langdon questioned
Stevens on his knowledge of the
$4,000 promissory notes executed by
Ruef to Frank ]. Murphy for the
benefit of Blake Stevens was Blake's
representative in the criminal trans
action for the purpose of getting Blake
TO go to jail in silence and permit
Murphy and A. S. Newburgh to escape
the consequences of their criminal at
tempt to fix Venireman John Martin
Kelly.
When Stevens was questioned he de-
clined TO answer on the ground that
any transaction between himself and
Blake was in the nature of privileged
communication between attorney and
client. Langdon produced the code Of
civil procedure and showed that on the
permission of the client the attorneys
lips must be unsealed. He produced
both written and oral proof that Blake
eXonerated Stevens from that profess
sional obligation. Blake was in the
anteroom Of the grand jury and there
absolved Stevens.
LOYAL TO INDICTED MEN
Still Stevens stood by his indicted
associates. He was then taken before
Presiding Judge Sturtevant.
., Sif
asked Stevens If he desired counsel to
represent him in the matter Stevens,
seeing a chance for delay. said that he
desired an attorney, and Judge Sturte-
want put the matter over until $50
o'clock this morning.
District Attorney Langdon then re-
turned Stevens to the grand jury room.
A stenographer was engaged and for
an hour and a half Stevens was ques-
toned by the district attorney. Stew
ems refused to answer any question,
but a foundation was laid for contempt
proceedings this morning. The grand
jury meets at o'clock this afternoon,
when Stevens will appear under in
structions from the court to answer all
questions and tell the full facts Of the
conspiracy to keep Blake silent. Stew
ems must testify on the alternative of
going TO jail or pleading that his story
would incriminate him.
INDICTMENTS PROBABLE
Ruef, Murphy and Stevens probably
will be indicted as a result of the in
vestigation now under way. When
Blake confessed his crime October 29
in Judge Dunnes court he said that
Frank ]. Murphy, who had engaged
him to bribe Kelly, the venireman, had
told him that If he should keep silent
he would be given $4,000 and his wife
would receive 800 a month during the
period of Incarceration. The money
was TO be. deposited with a third party
nominated by Blake and approved by
the grafters.
Blake selected Martin Stevens as his
representative. Naturally Stevens was
acceptable TO Ruef and Murphy. When
Ruef was preying on the French res
taurants Stevens drummed up trade In
the shape of Doodle for him and when
the prosecution first discovered that
Blake had attempted to bribe Kelly
Blake then defiant, had Stevens draw
up an affidavit for him showing how
innocent he was.
Blake was not called as witness
yesterday. He was present in the
Grant building with a bailin during
the proceedings.