The Topeka state journal., 1908-11-16
RUFF TRIAL RESUMED.
Great Rush of People Anxious to Hear
and See.


terest of the people of this city is CEN
tered on the bribery trial of Abraham
Ruef was made manifest early this
morning when long before the time set
for the opening of Judge Lawlor's court
crowds began to assemble before Car
, penters hall on Fulton street where
the trial is being held. All classes of
the community were included in the as
semblage which occupied the time of
waiting in discussing the exciting
events connected with the graft cases
following so swiftly on each other dur
ing the past few days. The sentiment
was generally expressed that while Or
der must be preserved and the law al
lowed to take its course there must be
no unnecessary delay in the work of
bringing the guilty to Justice.
When the doors of the court room
We're swung open there was a rush to
enter, which, however, was restrained
by the large force of police detailed for
the purpose and little confusion en-
sued. In addition to many officers in
uniform, score or more of plain
clothes men and detectives were scat
tered among the throng of people, and
in the room were so located as to keep
close watch over Ruef and the attor-
neys engaged in the trial OF his case.
Warned by the tragedy of Friday last,
no precaution will hereafter be omit
ted by the guardians of the law to
prevent repetition of the occurrence or
disorder of any kind, though it Is not
anI1ClpaLeQ
the further progress of the case. Mr.
Ruef was brought to court from the
branch county Jail at Ingleside, several
miles distant in the steel lined prison
van escorted by troop of mounted
police. When Fulton street was reach
ed the dense crowd which blocked the
approach to the court room was part
ed by the police and the van driven
to the edge of the sidewalk. Closely
followed by officers and detectives, the
building and quickly walked to the seat
which he has occupied during the trial
In addition to the mounted police five
uniformed policemen and three deputy
sheriffs were in the van with Ruef. Al
ter few minutes delay Ruef's case
was called at three minutes past 10.
Attorney Dozier announced that he had
a motion to make on Ruef's. behalf and
was done and Dozier filed an affidavit
signed by Ruef asking for a change
of venue to some court in another part
of the state as he was convinced that
he could not obtain fair trial In TINS
court.
Attorney Ach stated that if the mo-
ton for a change Of venue was denied
he would ask for continuance or 81
days, and if both motions were denied
he would ask for the dismissal of the
Jury on the ground that the members
had been unduly Influenced by Fridays
episode in court. -
Court adjourned at 1OoS unIll ~
O'Clock tomorrow morning in order to
give the prosecution time 10 make
counter aff1davits.
The affidavit consumed about 20 min
utes in reading. By far the greater
part of the convention consisted OF a
relation of all the circumstances con-
nected with the Ruef trial since its
commencement. The shooting in the
court room Friday and the subsequent
excitement; the mass meetings and
other assemblages held throughout the
city and elsewhere since that time, are
described On the full and every allega-
ton calculated to show an excited state
of the public mind and to injure the
cause of the defendant is set forth. In
part, it is said that conspiracy has
been charged INVOLVING the defendant
with the Heney shooting and the jury
not having been informed of all the
circumstances has drawn erroneous in
ferences as to the actual happenings.
In conclusion the principal affidavit af-
firms:
"Affant is informed and believes that
there is in the city of San Francisco
fierce and burning bias and prejudice
against him and that his life is in con-
stant danger; that there will probably
occur during his journeys to and from
the court room scenes of violence and
turbulence calculated to still further
prejudice his cause; that the lives of
his own counsel are in danger and that
they are not in a proper frame of mind
to give to his case the attention it de-
mands."
The affidavit is sworn to by Ruef
himself.
IJpon it's conclusion Dozier began
reading supplementary afhdavits relat-
ing occurrences alleged to have trans
pired at various mass meetings held in
the city.