The San Francisco call., 1908-07-04
RUFPS RELATIVES
EXAMINED AGAIN
Are Willing to Put Property in
Trust to Qualify as His
Sureties

Abe Ruef did not secure his expected
release on bail yesterday.
With just 100000 lacking to COM
pIete his bond of $780, 900 at the ex-
animation of sureties in Judge Mura-
sky's court. Ruef staked his final hope
of leaving Jail and celebrating the
fourth of July as a free man on the
acceptance of his father and sister,
Mrs. Henrietta Sittenfeld, and lost.
In his eagerness TO override the OBJ
jections of District Attorney Langdon,
and have the $500, 900 bond of his rela-
tives approved by the court, Ruef twice
arose and addressed Judge Murasky,
declaring that he held no interest
whatever in the properties they Of
fered as surety and would never at
tempt to secure an interest in them.
After careful consideration of the mat
ter Judge Murasky at length declared
that the father and sister of the de-
posed boss would be eligible If they
would draw up an instrument to be left
with the court, agreeing not to trans
fer or dispose of the property in any
way without direct permission from
the judge. He declined, however, to
accept their bonds until the district
attorney had had an opportunity of
verifying the values of the real es
tate involved. This important question
will be determined on Monday morn
torney Murphy stated he would also
have additional sureties of at least
5000, 900 on hand to make Ruefs re-
lease certain.
LESS THAN HALF ACCEPTED
In the course of the day Ruef's attor-
ney presented -sureties totaling $3.50,
900, of which $4,000 were accepted
by Judge Murasky after District At
torney Langdon had questioned the
witnesses and announced that they
would be satisfactory to him. With
the $4,000 passed the day before this
brought the total amount of bail ac-
cepted to $76O.oOO and Ruef's hopes
were high.
Deep interest centered in the exam
ination of Mrs. Sittenfeld and of Meyer
Ruef, the father of the accused CRATER.
When Attorney Murphy announced that
he would offer them as surety for the
remaining 100000, and Mrs. Sittenfeld
went on the stand, District Attorney
Langdon Immediately brought out the
fact that the 16 pieces of real estate
which she presented were the proper
ties which Ruef transferred to them
last month.
In this, Mrs. Sittenfeld testified, were
included the Commercial hotel property
at Pacific, Kearny and Montgomery
streets, said to be worth 100000; so
lOlS III OulSluc OlOCh oOd, TIE SOQlnSdSl
corner of Taylor and Beach streets,
two lots at Filbert street and Mont
gomery avenue, and others at Powell
street and Montgomery avenue, in the
west line of Pierce street near Green,
and one in Green street near Pierce.
Mrs. Sittenfeld declared that she had
been given a half interest in this
property by her brother as a gift, and
that there had been no money consid-
Grafton.
IF Mr.. Ruef were to ask for the
property tomorrow, would you give it
back?" asked Langdon. Mrs. Sittenfeld
declared that she would not unless the
bond were fully fulfilled.
At that moment Ruef himself
stepped forward to the rail. Your
honor" he said, my father and sister
the city treasury, or to the court in or
der to qualify on the bond.
II will say that l have no interest In
trust in the property of any kind and
1 never will make any effort to get an
interest in the property until these
cases are decided-if then, for 1 don't
see any reason why 1 should do so at
all"
II think Mr.. Ruef is now effectually
estopped by his statement in open
court from himself claiming any in
terest in this property" said Judge
Murasky.
Making clear that his position was
only to protect the interests of the
state in the matter and not for the
purpose of depriving Ruef of bail
District Attorney Langdon made Wig
orous objection. IF the defendant
were preparing to become a fugitive
from Justice" he interposed, who
would be more likely to know about it
in time to protect themselves by dis
posing of the property than his own
people?'
Again Ruef addressed the court, de-
cIaring that his relatives would go SO
far as to form corporation to control
the property and turn over all the
shares to the city treasurer. Judge Mu-
rasky ruled that the best method of
procedure would be for Ruef and his
father and sister to draw up instru-
ments binding them to make no dfspo-
sition of any of the sureties without
direct permission of the court. He then
set further examination of the wit
nesses to Monday morning at IL o'clock
at the request of District Attorney
Langdon, who requested time for max
ing a thorough investigation.
'"The fact of the matter is" said
I,angdon. that we feel satisfied beyond
any doubt that Ruef conveyed the prop
erty to Mrs. Sittenfeld and Meyer Ruef
for the sole purpose of enabling them
to go on the bond, and after examining
the transaction closely we believe we
can show to the satisfaction of the
court that 1t is a conveyance in trust
and that therefore the sureties present
ed are not proper ones"
sURETIES ACCEPTED
Following are those who. went on
| Ruefs bond yesterday:
JACQUES Blum m..... 1000
william Cohen ........ $4,000
Mrs. c. A. Meyer . 10000
DR.. w. L. Williamson ......... 10000
Emil E. Kahn ......... 10000
L. NJ. Seeliger ........... 10000
Louis Friedman ......... 100000
Aetna indemnity company -. 100000
When the afternoon session began
Attorney Murphy was on hand with ar
attempt to arouse Judge Murasky's
prejudices. With what was intended tc
be dramatic pose he read from ar
| article in an afternoon paper not in