The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-11-15
Monster Mass Meeting Held
by the People of San
Francisco.
PRISON SURROUNDED
BY A HEAVY GUARD
Wounded Prosecutors Condition
Critical, But Hope Is Felt
for His Recovery.
SAN FRANCIsCO, NoY. =

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. a.
While angry crowds of citizens sur
rounded the Jail tonight eager for an
opportunity to lay hands on him,
Morris Haas, who shot down Prose
cutor Francis J. Heney in Judge
LaWlorS court room, committed
suicide by shooting himself.
How he secured the revolver IS a
mystery.
Wild crowds are surrounding the
Jail, and trouble is expected.
The suicide of Haas came as a
climax to a day crowded with sen
sadonal events, and it occurred while
$500 citizens, worked up to a high
pitch of excitement, were assem-
bled in mass meeting to voice their
anger at the attempt to take the
prosecutors life.
Give us Haas and we'I1 fix him"
Icried some of those gathered to hear
| the speakers. Give us Ruef and
Wen attend to the prosecution"
shouted others.
Haas ended his life while four guards,
detailed to prevent just such a move.
stood within three feet Of him. The
weapon with which the wouId-be assas-
| sin shot himself he had secreted in the
top Of one Of his gaiter shoes. He fred
! the shot while lying in his cot and COW
/ cred with the blankets.
Since Haas was taken into custody
| Friday afternoon. Immediately after the
} sensational attempt To murder Haney.
/ lie has been closely watched by four
! detectives When taken 90 the county
/ jail on Friday afternoon. he was search
/ ed by the police authorities and all
his belongings were taken from him.
Kept Shoes On.
! 1t was noticed when Haas retired on
I Friday night that he did not take off
/ his shoes. When asked why he kept
/ his footgear on, ne replied that ne was
/ only going 10 lie down for a few mo-
ments; that he was too nervous 10
| sleep. and that he would pace up and
down his cell.
It was $50 tonight when the prisoner
| signided TO his guards that he wished
1 to retire He had just been interviewed
/ by Chief Of Police Biggey and Captain
| Of Detectives James Kelly. Two OF the
I detectives remained with Haas in the
cell and two stood outside the grating.
/ The prisoner divested himself Of his up
/ per garments and then lay down and
/ covered himself completely with the
blankets.
Ten minutes later the guards were
| startled by muffied report that came
from the bed. They threw back the
blankets to find the prisoner laying on
his back, a smoking Derringer grasped
in his right hand a tiny hole marked by
a small red spot showing in his right
temple.
His Hiding Place.
The mans right trouser leg was rolled
up. The gaiter top OF his right shoe
bulged, and against the flesh was the
mark showing where the pistol had rest
ed The pistol was a small single-bar-
relied Derringer, Of the type that can
be carried in the vest pocket
Haas was visited in the county Jail
this afternoon by his wife. who had
an hours talk with him II was thought
| at first that she had smuggied the re-
volver to him, but subsequent investi-
cation dispToved this theory. The pris-
crer had been interviewed throughout
the day by District Attorney Laugdon
and Detective Burns. He had been Of
fered the services Of an attorney, and
had replied that he had no funds. and
if the lawyer wished TO defend him he
could suit himself.
The news OF the suicide OF Haas ere
ated great excitement throughout the
city tonight The people, worked up 20
a fever pitch by the happenings of yes
terday. received with great excitement
The sensational climax of tonight. Great
thrOngs surround the Jail. and trouble
is feared.
Remarkable Scene.
| DreaInIand rink was the scene tonight
lof perhaps the most remarkable mass
meeting ever held in San Francisco,
when $500 enraged citizens, responding
20 the appeal issued early ia the DE-
iby the Citizens League of Justice, gath
cred TO listen TO prominent speakers
denOunce the attempt 10 assassinate
/ Prosecutor Francis J. Heney.
Overflow meetings were held on every
lcorner in the vicinity.
| Mayor Taylor presided and introduced