Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-11

A few seconds before o'clock there
was stir of interest, and Judge Law
lor left his chambers and assumed his
seat apon the bench. Men and women
rushed to secure the vacant places in
the court room or thronged about the
entrance.
A baliiff raped for order and an in
tense stiffness prevailed in the cham
crowded lower floor. From within
there came the sound of the tramp of
the twelve men as they descended the
stairway.es Just before the door opened
to permit their entry the stiffness was
broken by the voice of Judge Law1or,
who assured the gathering any demon
stration would result in punishment of
the most severe character.
The jurymen had scarcely assumed
their seats in the box before the brief
proceedings were at an end. The judge
glanced at the verdict and handed 1t
to Clerk Martin Welch, who read 1t
aloud.
Just as he pronounced the words
Guilty as charged a newspaper man
rose in his seat to wave a signal to an
associate standing in the rear of the
chamber. Half dozen detectives in
stantly pounced on the offender and
sharp cries of "Order, orderl" inter-
rupted the question of the court, who
then ordered the jury polled at the re-
quest of the defense.
Ruef sat between his father and
Thomas B. Dozier of the defense When
the verdict was returned.
Ruef Thinks of Parents First
He had spent the greater part of the
day in conversation with his aged par
enf. and though his face paled and his
time
upon the men who had pronounced ms
fate, almost his first thought was Tor
the elder Mr.. Ruef. He whispered a
few words of encouragement TO the oId
man, and sent him out of the room
with directions to break the news 10
the defendants mother and sisters.
Almost Immediately Judge I.aWlor
turned to discharge the jurylnen and
to thank them for the unusual services
exacted because of the long duration
of the case. In part he said:
'T think ii has become apparent,
from what the court has already said,
that the situation of the jurors In TINS
case. so long withdrawn from their
families and business interests, mas
constituted a genuine hardship. At the
same time the court has constantly
kept in view the fact citizens frequent
lv are required to make saerlnces IN
the interest of Justice The action or
the Jury has met with the warm ap-
proval of the court and has llghtened
somewhat it's arduous duties. YOU may
retire with the consciousness you nave
well discharged the duties intrusted TO
YOU. and you have earned the COM
mendation of the people you repre-
sented during your long term OF serV-
ice.
"The court will see that each of your
number is furnished with certihcate
exempting you from further jury serV-
ice
To Render Judgment Saturday
BY previous agreement of counsel
that the bill of exceptions should De
settled later, the court set next Satur-
day, December 12, as the day for pro-
nouncing Judgment. Ruets conviction
renders him liable to maximum PEN
atty of fourteen years in the penl-
tentiary.
The court room was cleared of spec
tators Immediately upon adjournment.
The jury left the box ana; py opuGrs nirs
of Judge Lawlor, declined TO make
any statement relating to the number
of ballots taken or the features or
their deliberations.
The twelve men departed through a
rear entranceto the building and were
cheered by a little crowd that had
gathered beyond the line of police.
y
within a few moments and he listened
to expressions of regret from his
friends without a shade of visible emo
ton. He shook hands cordially with
the detectives, who have guarded him
since his last entry in custody, and
smilingly declined to make any COM
ment upon the verdict, saying he did
not wish to have his utterances dis
torted later"
AS he descended the steps to enter
the black prison van that conveyed
him to the county jail there were a
few faint jeers from the crowd in the
immediate vicinity, but the presence
of a score of detectives who surrounded
him would have discouraged any con-
certed attempt at a demonstration, had
any existed. News of the verdict had
radiated with inexplicable rapidity, and
as the van drove away escorted by
policemen long lines of people stood
half a block away, held in check by
the police, and newsboys shouted 'ex-
tras" announcing the result,
Ten minutes before the verdict was