The San Francisco call., 1908-11-14
JOIN IN PLEDGE
FOR PROSECUTION
Hiram w. Johnson and Matt /.
Sullivan Dedicate Themselves
TO Heney's Work
Prominent Attorneys viii Sac
rifce Practice and Future to
Convict Grafters

Hiram W. Johnson and Matt I. Sulli-
van. Two Of the best known lawyers in
California. dedicated themselves vester-
day to the fulfllment of the work
which Francis J. Heney had begun.
With hand clasped in hand they pledged
themselves TO carry forward the prose
cution Of Abe Ruef and the other hood
lers, high and low. until such time as
Heney should be able TO resume the
WORK The two men. fired by a lofty
patriotism, VIII practically abandon
their private practice and viii devote
their time. their energy and their tai
ents 70 the cause Of the people Of San
Francisco.
II was one Of those strange coinci-
cences thar defy explanation which
mad brought them together at the mo-
inent that Heneys blood crimsoned the
moor OF Judge LaWlOr's courtroom On
behalf Of the Citizens League Of Justice.
~ which he is the president, Sullivan
rad gone 10 the Office Of Hiram Johnson
in the Mills building to urge him to re-
enter the prosecution. Speaking for
tne league Of justice. sullivan said that
u had been decided 70 offer Johnson
q substantial fee TO assist Heney in the
Ruef case.
= cannot do it. said johnson. 4
would like 20. but my private practice
is in such shape that ] must carry il
forward. / must complete the things
d have begun for my clients The f.
nancial sacrifice would be a heavy one.
i do not see how I can do it,"
AT that moment T. NJ Griffith. an
attorney in Johnson's Office. burst into
the room.
"Heney has been shot" he cried.
1t cannot he" said Johnson 1T
must be 2 mistake"
hurried telephone call to the sher-
in's Office and Judge Lawlors court
room brought the confirmation.
sullivan" said Johnson. rising from
hts chair. This is a terrible crime.
You and I must dedicate ourselves to
carry forward this work. We must
not think Of compensation"
i pledge myself 10 that" replied
sullivan. as he grasped JOhnson's ex-
tended hand We viii give ourselves
u this WORK. We viii carry 1T for
ward uatn Heney, himself. can resume
his place al the head of the prosecu-
tion.
The two men viii at once tender
their services to District Attorney
Langdon and viii offer TO serve as long
as needed without compensation Of
any sort
II was learned yesterday in this
connection that Heney had but a few
DAYS before gone TO Johnson and
1c h-f-l llill 10 JOIN Win MN IN the
prosecution Of Abe Ruef. At that time
Johnson had replied. as he did to Sullf-
van, that it was not possible at this
time
Abandoning all thought of their per-
s0nal affairs. the two men have decided
TO give themselves over to the people
that justice may yet be done in San
Francisco.
Charles s. Wheeler, one Of the fore
most lawyers Of the west, called on
Rudolph Spreckels last night to offer
his services in the prosecution of the
grafters. Spreckels thanked Wheeler
for his generous action. He explained
that Johnson and Sullivan had offered
their services, and that they had been
accepted but that If additional coun-
sci were needed. the prosecution would
probably be glad to take advantage OF
Wheeler's offer.
Il am not q criminal lawyer by pro-
fession. and seldom act in that depart
ment Of the law, but in this instance
I think ] can become prosecutor in a
very short space Of time" were Wheel
er's words in Offering his services to
the prosecution