Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-11-18
HENEY SHOT DOWN
At REUF TRIAL
LEADING FIGURE IN FRISCO
GRAFT CASES ASSAULT
ED IN COURT.
ASSAILANT is Ex-cONviCT RE-
JEcTED AS JUROR IN A
FORMER TRIAL.

San francisco, Cal, NOV. IL
Francis ]. Heney, leading figure in
the prosecution of municipal corrup-
ton in this city, was shot and seri-
ously injured yesterday by Morris
Haas, saloonkeeper, who had been
accepted as a juror in previous
trial and afterwards removed, it hav
ing been shown by the prosecution
that he was an ex-convict, a fact not
brought out in his examination as
venireman.
The shooting occurred in Superior
Judge Lawlor's courtroom, during a
recess in the trial of Abraham Reuf,
on trial for the third time on the
charge of bribery.
At six o'clock last night, T1eney
was conscious. He said:
81 will live to prosecute him."
Physicians in attendance on Heney
expressed the opinion that he would
i've 1t had been ascertained that the
bullet, which had entered the right
cheek, had lodged under the left ear
and had not entered the brain, as at
first feared.
Heney was taken to hospital The
shooting occurred at APP yesterday
afternoon. Judge Lawlor had a few
moments before declared 10 min
utes recess of the court and the jury
had left the room.
Attorneys for the prosecution and
defense had returned to the room
from a short conference with Judge
Iyawlor in his chambers. Heney had
resumed his customary seat and was
conversing with Chief Clerk McCabe
of the district attorneys office when
Haas came forward. He approached
Heney and placing revolver against
his right cheek fired. Instantly the
courtroom was scene of greatest ex
citement. Some bystanders seized
Haas, others FASTENED to the relief
of Heney who was caught as he fell
forward, the blood streaming from
his wound. Medical aid was sum
moned and Heney was Afterwards
taken to the central emergency hos
initial. where it was ascertalned tha1
his wound was not necessarily fatal
the bullet having passed under the
brain and found Judgement under the
left ear.
After Heney had been removed
from the courtroom, Judge Lawio
called the court to order and hat
Reuf placed in custody.
When arrested, Haas said that N
shot Heney because he had ruined
him. He is a married man and ma
four children. In statement mao
TO Police Captain Duke he said:
s.Heney denounced me in pubic
which ruined my life and branded mi
as an ex-convict. 1t was an outrage
I am the wronged man. l do not car
what becomes of me now. hav
sacrificed myself, not for my owl
honor, but for those who are s1tuate'
like myself. By God, l would no
have brought my four children int
the world to bear such brand II
had known that the fact that was al
ex-convict would have become known
Heney ruined me. That is why
shot him"
incidents of the Tragedy.
In the second Reuf trial, Haas ha
been passed as juror when one aa
in court Heney dramatically produce
a photograph of him taken at Sa
Quentin penitentiary, taken In COZ
yiet's garb and cropped head, an
with his number across his breas
Haas collapsed in court, admitted a
had been a convict and was 1mmed
ately discharged from the jury.
Heney had finished the cross-exan
ination at noon of James Gallagher
the prosecutions most importan
witness in all the bribery graft case
and the self-confe ssed "go-between
of Reuf and the former board OF supe
visors. Henry Ash, chief counsel 10
Reuf. had subjected Gallagher 10
severe cross-examination for {"
hours in the afternoon when Judg
I,awlor declared a brief recess
4.05. Heney remained in the cour
room. and was leaning over on NJ
table conversing with Al McCao'
chief clerk in the district attorney
office. Directly in front OF him wa
James L. Gallagher. the witness.
commemorative of the Associated Pres
had Just walked to Heney's taoie an
was standing at his left elbow wal
ing to speak to him, when q sma
man. neatly attired. approached frol
behind with quick steps but Win q
liberation. Suddenly his right nan