The San Francisco call., 1908-12-04
CEMENT king"
RUEPS Buffer
WITH SCHM|Tz
Dingee Tells How the CRATER
Sought His Aid in Paci-
flying Mayer
Says Executive Objected to the
Curly Boss Employment"
by Parkside People
Abbott Relates Details of Fords
Trip 10 Mint to Draw
SIOO,OOO

31UC,UOU
William J. Dingee. described by him
self as a man Of various occupations" !"
now more publicly known as a million
aire OF fading millions. became a wit
ness in the trial Of Abe Ruef yester-
day. Heretofore Dingees connection
with the graft cases has been as a
bondsman of ex-AIayor Eugene E.
schmitz, and a close friend of that dis
graced Official He took the stand yes
teroay 10 tell how Abe Ruef had ap-
pealed TO him TO serve as buffer be-
tween Ruef and Mayor schmitz.
The cement king as he was once
called. was not the only witness of the
day who has long been in the nmelight.
He was preceded on the stand by VIII
liam II. Abbott. general attorney for the
United Railroads. who as joint de-
fendant with Ruef on an Indictment not
on trial, testified with the utmost re-
luctance and only as an alternative of
admitting that his testimony would in
criminate him.
MORRIS LEVY on STAND
Immediately after Dingee, Norris
Levy, once secretary Of the fight trust
and boxing contest promoter, now a
farmer Of Vineburg. sonoma county. ex-
posed the inner workings Of the fight
trust and told with racy diction the
various steps of forming that combina-
ton.
The case for the people is drawing TO
a close There were few clashes Of mo-
.ment in the proceedings yesterday. but
the attorneys dallied like grammarians
OF the fifteenth century over the phrase
res inter alios actas" meaning some
thing done among other men," and a
ground for objecting TO certain ques-
tions dealing with persons other than
the defendant.
Dingee was called to the stand about
the middle Of the afternoon. In re-
ply 70 questions put by Assistant Dis
lrict Attorney John O'Gara. he said he
had known Ruef since before the fire
in 1906.
He came TO my Office about that
time, said Dingee.
state what took place there" asked
O'Gara.
Ach objected.
we propose 10 show the relation be-
tween the defendant and the board Of
supervisors, explained O'Gara.
Judge Lawlor directed that the ques-
tion be answered.
RUFF TELLS OF DEAL
'Ruef told me" said Dingee. that
schmitz had taken exception TO his
taking employment with the Parkside
realty people. and he came down to as
sure me regarding the occasion Of the
employment
lie said that he wasn't butting in;
that they were insisting on employing
him. ana he said that they had money
40 throw al The birds and that they
could consider him a bird"
Dingee said his reply was immaterial
There was no cross examination.
When Dingee was served with sub
pena in the Ruef case, according to
Charles Oliver, The process server, he
remarked. I've been trying to avoid
this all along. Schmitz is my friend.
and il I go into Judge Dunne's court
he'll have 10 20 TO Jail"
Dingee denied that ne ever made such
q remark.
When William n. Abbott was called.
A. A. Moore and Stanley Moore streuu-
ously objected TO the witness being
sworn on the ground that he was al
ready under an indictment, that not
being z voluntary witness he was in
competent 10 give any evidence, and
that any testimony he might give might
be used against him.
Judge Lawior elected the facts that
Abbott was not Jointly accused with
the defendant in the Indictment al bar
and had demanded severance. Then
he directed the witness 10 answer
questions. Later an objection was
raised by Abbott's counsel 10 the oues-
tion regarding the witnesses visit to
the United States mint with Tfrev 7,
Ford at the time it is alleged Ford
secured the currency with which to
-bribe RUef
ABBOTT REFUSES TO ANSWER
TO that question decline to an
swer." said Abbott, "as it pertains to
facts and circumstances claimed by the
district attorney TO connect me with
the matter before this court and deemed
Of sufficient Importance 10 base an in
dlctment upon
DO you object on the ground that
an answer might incriminate you?"
asked O'Gara.
Abbott would not 90 that far. and
Judge Lawlor held that otherwise he
could not claim the constitutional privi-
lege.
Abbott's testimony. apart from the
interruptions. was brief. He said that
he went TO the mint in May, 1906, with
TREY J.. Ford, general counsel OF the
United Railroads. and that Ford secured
two packages containing $4,000 in
greenbacks. and that he helped Ford
10 carry the money away. Abbott also
said that Patrick Calhoun was in San
Francisco prior TO the fire and returned
shortly after the disaster
NORRIS LEWIS STORY