Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-14
ATTY. HENEY SHOT
BY AN EX.C0HI|CT
crime Occurred in Courtroom
During Third Trial Of Ruef
For Bribery.
HAD EXPOSED PRISON BIRD
HAD EXPOSED PRISON BIRD
Morris Haas Declared Exposure Had
Ruined His Life and lie Determined
TO Kill Man Who Made 1t.

Francisco bribery-graft cases had u
dramatic climax today when Assistant
DIST Att. Francis j. Hcncy, who has
been in charge of tie prosecution
during its tortuous course Of two
years was shot and seriously wounds
ed in the crowded courtroom by
Morris Haas, an ex-convict. The
shooting occurred during brief recess
in the third trial of Abraham Ruef
on the charge of bribery, which is
now in it's eleventh week.
Mr.. Heney is now resting easily in
the Lane hospital, and the physicians
say that Lis wound Is not fatal. Haas
Is in the city prison. The would-be as
sassin is a snloonkeeper, who was
drawn upon the jury panel in the sec
ond trial of Ruef and who, after hav-
ing been temporarily passed by both
sides, was exposed in dramatic man
her by Mr. Heney as an ex-convict
and discharged from the Jury. Haas
declared after the shooting that Heney
had ruined his life by the exposure
and that 10 had determined to XIII
him for that reason.
Mr.. Heney had finished the cross
examination at noon of James L. Cal
lagher,. the prosecutions most I'M
portant witness III all the bribery
graft cases and the self-confesscd
go-between" of Ruef and the former
board OF supervisors. Henry Ach,
chief counsel for Ruef had submitt-
ed Gallagher to severe cross-exain-
nation for two hours in tie afternoon.
when Judge Lawlor declared a brief
recess at A o'clock. The jury filed
Dozlcr. at tho request of the judge
went into his chamber to confer
with him on some proposed instruc-
lions to the jury. At the conclusion OF
the conference Acf, Dozier, Ruef and
Judge Lawlor went out of the court
room to the street in front of the
building which is located on Fulton
street near Van Ness avenue.
Mr.. HeneS, instead Of going out
side to enjoy brief airing, stepped
for a moment Into an anteroom, and
then came back to his counsel table.
While many of the people who crowd
ed the courtroom until there was
no standing room left had also go1e
out on the sidewalk, there was still
crowd in the room.
THE SHOOTING.
Mr.. Heney was leaning over his
table convcrsing In low tones with
AL NTcCabe, chief clerk in the district
attorneys office. Directly in front OF
him was James l.. Gallagher, the
witness. A representative OF the Assoc
ciated Press had Just walked to Mr..
Heney's table and was standing at
his left elbow waiting for an oppor-
tunity to speak to him. when small
man. neatly attired. approached the
assistant attorney from behind in
quick steps, but with elaboration
Suddenly his right hand shot out,
and before the newspaperman, NC,
Cabe or John Foley, Heney's special
bodyguard. sitting about eight feet
away. could make move, there was
flash and loud report rang through
The courtroom.
For moment everybody seemed
stunned and paralyzed. Tho would-pe
assassin, whose revolver was within
n foot and half of Heney's head
when lie pulled the trigger, stepped
back his arms by his side, one he
still clutcheirg the smoking pistol
as if he hesitated what to do
fraction of a second an impressive
silence followed the report, while the
smoke of the shot lazIy floated away.
Then followed q dramatis scene.
ASSASSIN DoWNED.
Some one shouted: MY God! He
escaped the crowd. Half the people
evidently fearing further shooting
made a frantic rush for the doors. Be-
fore Haas could raise his pistol again
Foley and e. J. Wskotchill, a special
policeman, were upon him, threw him
TO the floor and wrestcd the weapon
from his grasp. He struggled, but was
dragged to the jury box, thrown on MS
back and there held down, just as the
jury attracted by the shot, come burst
ing through their private entrance. MT
Heney arose out of his chair put his
hands to his head, the blood streaming
through his fingers and reddening TIT
table In front of him, leaned over 9
moment and was caught as he began
to fall He was laid on the floor
Charles Oliver and John Foley, two
special detectives connected with TIN
district attorneys office, holding hi
head out of the pool of blood which
flowed from hole which appeared t
be just below his right temple. He wa
conscious, and when the Associatet
Press representatives dropped down b!
his side and spoke to him his frs
words were: Send for my Wife
HENEY WAS COOL.
Dr. H. A, Ficks, who was in thu
courtroom at the time, rushed to MI
Heney's side. made hasty eXamina
ton and pronounced him fatal!
wounded. Mr.. Heney was perfect.
composed, the peculiar smile for Which