Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-06
PAID RUFF
LARGE FEE
BOSS BRlBE DECLARED JUST
CHARGE
WITNESS NOT SATISFACTORY TO
HENEY
SIeuths Who Have Been Following
Detective Burns Are Detained
by Order of Assistant
Prosecutor

SAN FRANCISCO, May 5.-In the
Ruef bribery trial today Joseph E.
Green, president of the Parkside
Realty company, got through his long
siege on the witness stand and was
followed by Gustav H. Umbsen, the
real estate man.
The testimony of both witnesses was
quite frank, but their admissions We're
no more damaging than that they had
paid Ruef an attorneys fee to help
them get their franchise.
In telling of his dealings with Ruef,
Umbsen said: 81 went to see Ruef
and asked him why it was the Parkside
franchise was not permitted to go
through. He said the mayor has
promised you the franchise, and as 1t
seems to be a pet measure of his, l
have nothing to do with 1t. Let him
get 1t for YOU
"I then told Ruef he was blocking
the franchise, and / asked him what
his proposition was. He said that If
he were taken in as an attorney he
would probably help the thing along.
called on Ruef again and told him
that / was authorized to employ him.
He said, Before l accept the employ
ment, as this is a pet measure of the
mayor, I want to tell him that 1 am
employed and get his consent
1.-THE next time / saw Ruef he said
he could not accept the employment
unless the fee was $4,000. Ruef said,
ordinarily I would ask only $4,000, but
l want $50,000.' He afterwards cut 1t
down to $30.000."
"Was $4,000 regarded as excessive,
In view of the standing of Ruef ar an
attorney" asked Ach of Green.
mo. SIR"
Would Have Paid Him More
wouldn't you at the time you
sought Ruef's assistance have given
him q much larger sum IL he could
then and there have guaranteed you
that he could get quick action upon
your application for the franchise?"
Eyes. SIR"
was there any suggestion or inti-
nation by the supervisors when you
talked with them that they = i been
'fixed'?"
mo, SIR"
"Did you tell Ruef to keep his en-
ployment secret?"
mo, SIR
Referring sarcastically to the former
supervisor as now being considered
honest" Ach was interrupted by the
assistant district attorney with the in
terjection, Eyes, the supervisors have
become hc-.est, honest through force"
did your company consider Ruef's
fee an exorbitant one?" asked Ach.
mo; not at all"
us 1t not fact that you would at
that time have paid any attorney
s50000 for that wCrk?"
'Yes, SIR
and would have considered it reas-
enable under those circumstances"
Yes; would
Glad to Get Ruef
us 1t not true that you were mighty
Of nd him
that $4,000 fo-' it?"
''Yes, sir
WAS there reported back to you by
Cope Umbsen or others, or were you
given to understand in any way that
Ruef intended to spend any of his fee
for illegitimate purposes?"
mo- SIR
did you have the slightest intima-
ton that your money was intended for
any other purpose than to pay Tor
Ruefs legal service?"
mo, SIR
It was apparent that the turn in
Green's testimony attributing such
high value to Ruefs legal services did
not please the assistant district attor-
ney. and when Heney took the witness
for redirect examination he immedi-
ately sought to bring out what Ruefs
legal work consisted of that the wit
ness considered the company had not
maid him too much. 1t developed that
Green and Cope had prepared the APP
plication and the ordinance.
"Then YOU do not know of any legal
work Ruef did," asked Heney.
sNot in the preparation of these doc
uments."
needed additional legal advice?'
.sI believed we needed additional as
ss-topoa and helm in the matter.
'"You did not think you needed any
additional advice on legal points, did
YOU. when you sent Umbsen to Ruef?"
II did not"
witness admitted that he knew Ruef
N be the political leader responsible for
the election of the board of supervisors
from whom the realty company wanted
the franchise In the afternoon Ruef's
father and sister were In court for the
first time since his trial began.
SIeuths Detained
Assistant District Attorney f. J..
Henev this morning had four men, al
legged to have been shadowing w. j.
Burns. the prosecutions special agent.
detained by having them placed under
orders of the court as witnesses. Gours
had Just convened In the trial or Ruef
when Burns came into the courtroom,
i followed by four men,. -,
Heney Interrupted the calling of the
roll of the jury and called Judge Dool-
&ings attention to the men. saying:
Your honor, l want these men de-
fained as witnesses"
what is your occupation?" asked
Dooling, addressing one of them. THE
&nly occupation they have" interjected
81 eney, 'is following Mr.. Burns around
Hnd interfering with his investigating
~ attempted murder" referring to the
Pnamiting of the home of James l..
gallagher, the prosecutions star wit
MSS in the bribery-graft cases. The
men gave their names as c. Middle-
nc ]. Newman