The San Francisco call., 1908-05-15
WILSON UNSHAkEN
BY ACH'S SCATHING
BOodler Sticks to Truth, Despite
Gruelling of King Grafter's
Attorney
Long Cross Examinations May
Continue Ruef Case Until
Early Next Week

Andrew Wilson, ex supervisor and
state railroad commissioner, related on
the witness stand yesterday in the Ruef
trial the entire history of his boodling
transactions with the once king of
grafters. Throughout the whole day
wilson was on the stand under Cruel
ling cross examination by Assistant
District Attorney Heney and Henry
Ach, chief counsel for the defense. Ach
ripped, tore and lanced at the witness
in determined effort to shake his
testimony. carrying Wilson back and
forth in his story, making him tell 1T
| over time and again. But shortly after
o'clock in the evening he was brought
to check when he said:
We'll, now, Mr.. Wilson, we'll just go
over that again"
mo; L don't think you will either, Mr..
Ach," interrupted Judge Dooling Well
just take a recess until 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning"
During the day Attorney w. A. Rich
ardson, personal attorney for Wilson,
was on the stand a short while, testi-
| flying as to advice he had given Will
son to tell only the truth when called
as witness in the graft case.
Despite the bitter fight to confuse his
testimony, Wilson proved one of the
best witnesses for the prosecution yet
called.
On direct examination at the morn
ing session Wilson told of a talk he
had with Ruef after a consultation
with Supervisors Furey and Mamlock,
who had expressed dissatisfaction with
the way things were being run by CAL
lagher
GALLAGHER WAS CHIEF
"Ruef told me- said Wilson, ito tell
the boys that Gallagher was acting
=
consent, and he was satisfied it was not
Gallagher's fault that the amounts paid
had not been what the board expected.
At another conversation I told Ruef
wanted the money in the Parkside deal,
but he said it was undecided when the
money was to be paid
Heney's direct examination was very
short, being directed toward bringing
out Wilson'S story as succinctly as pos
sible.
I When he took the witness for cross
examination Ach braced himself for the
attack. Standing with one foot in a
waste basket and climbing half over
the rail he leveled a long forefinger at
the witness and shouted:
Mr.. Wilson! You, Andrew Wilson!
Are you telling the truth?'
Yes, sir" responded the witness and
failed to repress a smile at Ach's ragic
attitude.
"Ah, Smiling at it, eh?" snarled Ach.
| How many crimes have you ever COM
mitted Mr.. Wilson,"
Why, 1 suppose four or five bribery
crimes"
And do you know that the punish
ment for the crimes to which you now
confess is II years on each offense, or
20 years in all?"
| WOULD NOT SCARE
Wilson faiIad fo he Scara6 domauor
and stuck to his story. Unable to tear
down his testimony with such tactics,
Ach devoted himself for the remainder
of the morning to evolving his theory
that Gallagher had been the agent of
the supervisors, and Ruef the abused,
innocent victim of the wicked board.
How many times have you told this
story of your shame?'' asked Ach later
in the day. reverting to his attempt to
tangle and frighten Wilson.
Three times in court" said Wilson.
Continuing under cross examination
Wilson said he had once met Ruef in
court and Ruef had told him that the
immunity contract was no good. He
related that when the Parkside fran
chise had first been brought up in a
caucus of the supervisors in Ruefs
house he had spoken in favor of It,,
saying his policy was to give a little
and take a little" Ruef cautioned him
not to again make such a break
Although Assistant District Attorney
Heney announced Wednesday that he
would conclude yesterday, owing to the
length of time Ach is taking in the ex-
animation of witnesses 1t Is probable
that the case will not be ready for ar
gument before the early part of next
week.
Two more of the Calhoun sleuths who
have been dogging Detective Burns
were subpenaed yesterday.