The San Francisco call., 1908-05-14

I1entg 1nAouACOa 8t tnC ChOSC OA
last RiKhf's session of the Bucf trial
that the prosecution would close today.
Boodling ex-supervisor Daniel G.
Coleman yesterday tried to leap back
into the Ruef fold by altering during
the king grafters trial bis testimony
as previously given before the grand
jury. Bat in making the hop Coleman
mixed his dates. and wben Assistant
District Attorney Heney got through
with him on the witness stand he had
concluded to change his mind back
again, his sudden memory lApses hav
ing all been filled in again with sur
prising accuracy.
For q time, however, there were Wig
orops verbal pyrotechnies In Judge
DooliDg's courtroom when the opposing
lawyers clashed over the witness, while
be, terrified. foundered in desperate
attempt to extricate himself from the
mesh of his owR weaving.
Immediately on the opening of his
cross examination by Ach, Coleman's
loss Of memory occurred. He told Rueffs
attorney. who seemed to know all
about it, that the day before, late in
the afternoon, he had informed the
prosecution that he had been mistaken
in the portion of his testimony before
the grand jury relating to 4 conversa
ton with Ruef He said he had sud
denly recolleeted that in the converse
tion he had not mentioned the bribe
money to Ruef This change would
have nullifed the only directly cor
roborative part Of bis entire testi-
nony. In the original statement he
had declared that the visit was for the
sole purpose of stirring UP" Ruef to
come through" with the Parkside
money.
Aeh drew this out from the wit
ness in a series OF carefully planned
questions, and then when the point had
been made continued on less material
subjects. Heney kept quiet until he got
the witness back on redirect examina-
ton. Then the fireworks began to
sputter.
HENEY TAKES HAND
"Ah, Mr.. Coleman" he asked. in
purring tone OF voice, you say that
when you had this conversation with
MIR. Ruef you went to him to stir him
up in relation to the Parkside fran
chise. What did you want Mr.. Ruef
to do?'
why, I thought he might be able to
facilitate matters so that the franchise
would move ahead more quickly and
would get the money quicker, from
whatever source it was that Gala CHER
obtained it,
Well did you not consider GAlIag CHER
represented Ruef?'
Coleman lodged, refusing to admit
this in so many words.
And when did you say this con-
versation took placer asked Heney,
still In 4 soothing voice.
After the franchise had been passed
to print
Heney changed his tone to a men
acing burr, rising at the end almost to
shout
Then will you tell US how Ruef could
have facilitated matters after the
board had passed the franchise? How
he could have hurried anything but
the payment of the bribe money? Do
you deny that the sole and only pur-
pose you had in going to see Ruef was
TO tell him, as you testified before the
grand jury. that the other super rsfsors
were becoming grumpy, and that un-
liable to go out after money on their
own account and get caught, and that
the whole board would be involved?
And didn't Ruef reply, as you testified
before the grand jury, that he was
holding the matter in abeyance' until
the graft investigation was over2'
AS he poured forth his questions
Heney rose from his seat, hurtling his
words at the witness with cutting dis
tinctness. Before Heney was finished
Ach was also on his feet, making fran
tic objections. AS the prosecutors
questions piled up Coleman crumpled
down in his chair, his small, shifty eyes
darting from Heney to Ach in fear. He
started a confused reply. but was
choked off by torrent Of objections"
and exceptions" from Ach-
Grilled further by Heney, Coleman
finally replied:
'sOh. yes! Come to think of it, I now
do have a distinct idea as to what
you are trying to get at"
During his cross examination Aeh led
the witness into statements tending
to strengthen the plea Of Ruef now
plainly evident, that he was held up"
Did you ever ask Mr.. Ruef for
money!" he inquired.
Il want to say that I never asked,
Mr.. Ruef nor any other man for
money" answered Coleman. with an in
jured air. TT was always offered to
me first"
When Heney took the witness he
asked him:
'Didn't you know somebody was SELF
ing your vote. and that was why you
were getting this money!"
Il didn't consider It q barter and
sale transaction" he replied. Then,
with q show of heat.
IF had known any man was selling
NY NOb6 must certainty SnOulQ nave
voted exactly the opposite
Asked by Aeh as to conversations he
had had with Heney regarding his tes-
tinony, Coleman said:
WANTED ONLY TRUTH
Mr.. Henry told me hs wanted the
truth and nothing else, just as he has
always done"
At the evening session Supervisor
Charles Boxton was on the stand. He
admitted q remark be had made at the
Casino luncheon when the Parkside
matter was being discussed. He said
be had been imbibirg considerable.
white wine" and had said:
We'll. gentlemen. this is fine rrou-
osition with q good deal OF money in If.
but you gentlemen are not in It for
your health-and neither are we.' :
Ex-Superyisor Max Mamlock took the
stand and was examined during the
evening session. He related a caucus
of the supervisors Who distrusted Gal
lagber and who sent Andrew Wilson to
see Ruef and find out IL Gallagher was
playing square After that, when Cal
lagher would make a proposition VIII
son would verify it.
At the close OF the days sessions
Heney announced TO the court that ali
of his testimony would probably be in
today.
How do you like the outIoolx7. he