The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-01-12
ABE RUFF MAKES
A HIT IN JAIL
Fallen Political Boss Cheers
the Hearts of Unfortunate
Fellow Prisoners.
MONDAY DECIDES HIS FATE
SLATED FOR CONFERENCE WITH
LANGDON.

San Francisco. Jan. 11-'My confer
ence with District Attorney Langdon
Monday afternoon viii determine my
future course OF action" said Abraham
Ruef TO the Associated Press today
when interviewed at the county Jail.
Monday will decide the fate of ma
TONS he added jocularly. Until
then 1 have nothing TO say"
By the ''fate of nations" it was evil
dent that he meant that on Monday
would be held the final~conference be-
tween himself and the district attor-
ney at which his own case and the
prosecution of the public service cor
pcration Officials charged with bribery
in so far as the testimony of Ruef
was concerned, would be finally de-
cided.
Declares His Innocence.
Asked about the reports that a ser
ious breach had occurred between him
self and the prosecution It yesterday
conference and that the district attor-
nCy's office was now determined to
prosecute HIM on every charge and
give me the limit" Ruef said:
mo one was present at that confer
ence but Langdon, Special Agent Burns
end myself 1t is admitted that none
of these gave out the slightest intima-
ton of what took place. The logical
conclusion is that The newspapers do
not know what they are talking about
which is not unusual
~ was present at the conference and
,aInow that nothing was sad that would
bear out the statements published this
morning If any of my friends are
IL f.aNH
are more impetuOus than l am. l still
have some faith in human nature. 1t
looks to me more that such reports are
circulated for the purpose of intim-
idating me"
Nothing Was Given Out.
the former political dictator ap-
peared to be in u cheerful frame of
mind and reiterated his declaration
that he was innocent of the charges
against him-"Not innocent on mere
legal technicalities and Interpretation,
but innocent upon The facts" he said.
He declared that he was actuated by
strong personal considerations when he
pleaded guilty, although innocent, and
would explain to Judge Dunno at the
proper time in court.
Although but three days in the coun-
" jail, Ruef. unlike former Mayor
Schmitz. J. Dalzel Brown. W. ]. Bart
nett, Louis Glass and other prominent
men confined there, has become very
popular with the 400-odd prisoners. He
spt nds much of his time interesting
himself in their troubles. giving ad-
vice and not infrequently something
more practical Unlike Schmitz, Glass,
Brown and BARNETT, who seldom speak
to any of their fellow prisoners and TO
few of the guards, Ruef has CHEEKY
word for everybody.
Jail Life Made Happy.
1t was learned at the county jail
that. finding that many of the prison
ers had no matches, Ruef ordered
twenty dozen boxes. bought all the to-
bacco. cigars and cigarettes in the
commissary department of the Jail anc
distributed them. He is the principal
customer of d few prisoners who exc
cut a few cents-by making beadwork
and various little knicknacks, patrO-
niZing them to the extent of seVera
dollars a day. Today Ruef sent to his
house for a large and valuable talking
machine. with several boxes of records
from the latest popular songs 10 the
best operate music, and tonight gave
a concert, at which Caruso, Tomagno
MeIba and other famous singers, sang
Tor tie DflEOlGlS 1 ~ lclA btAto vi
cakes, ordered by Ruef, were distrib-
uted to the inmates while they listened
10 the music. 1t was d break in the
unonotouv of Jail life and an unusual
treat that appeared to be immensely
appreciated. One of the prisoners
seemed to voice the popularity of Ruef
when he said: Mr.. Ruef. if we de
eide to make a break. we will elect
YOU as our chief" but Ruef shook his
head doubtfully as to the honor.
Glad of the Experience.
DO you know, l would not have
missed the experience out here for &
thousand dollars a day said he, add
ing after moments thought, II
eventually l get out of here:
ITS a relief to be here" he contin-
ued. "No longer am I spied upon by
/, two or three guards. my every move
watched and every word l say listened
for"
Ruef dwelt at length upon the an
happy condition of some of the prison
ers ana the small, cold unsanitar9
cells.
You may not believe it, but there
are men here who are not criminals
at least criminals at heart 1 forge
my troubles in listening to theirs
Pointing to young country boy
who had run away from home and ma
been sentenced for vagrancy. Rue
said: IT'S an unjust. cruel and wrons
system that will send a boy OF sucf
tenders years among habitual and har'
densd criminals, where he will learr
every form of vice and viciousnes:
and go out worse than he camo 10
Such is not the intention of the law.
Genuine Pleasure.
while there are many here whom
would not care TO affiliate with, i
costs nothing to say a kind word, and
some of these poor devils are sorely il
need of a little cheer. I have haC
more genuine pleasure out of a dollar
spent among these poor Unfortunate
than out of fifty spent for my owl
pleasure and qualification outside.
find human nature here the same as
in the world outside these bars-ap-
preciative of a little kindness shown.
Taking from his pocket large
package of letters, he said; This is q
part of my daily mail since coming
here" Examination showed that they
were letters of cOngra tulation on the