The San Francisco call., 1908-11-05
VEN|REM[N THINK
ABE RUFF GUILTY
Prospective Jurors in the Graft
Case Are Quickly Excused
for Cause
Only One of the Men Questioned
Believes the Curly Boss
Is innocent

Thirteen men, two of whom were
partially examined, were in the jury
box at the Ruef trial when the special
session adjourned last night. The final
examination of the two was postponed
until this morning. William J. Evans,
retired Nebraska cattleman, living at
2l2 Valencia street, was examined at
length by Henry Ach, who appeared to
be satisfied as TO his qualifications. but
Evans was not certain as to whether
his name appeared on the assessment
roll This fact viii be determined this
morning
William Oakley. contractor. living
at 200 Fair Oaks avenue, was also ques-
toned by the defense, and at adjourn
ment Ach stated that he would further
examine the talesman this morning as
to his qualifications. Oakley declared
that he had no fixed opinion, nor was
he acquainted with any Of the princi-
pals in the graft cases
James Mcnamara. property owner
living at 1866 Union street, was Sc
lected as the eleventh juror at the end
of the afternoon proceedings, and the
tedious examination regarding his
qualifications brought clearly to light
the lack or cohesion and possibility of
rupture in Ruefs counsel. Thomas B.
Dozier, the Shasta county attorney,
conducted the examination for the de-
fense, but Henry Ach, chief counsel,
felt called upon to intervene to the
extent of retracing portions of Do
zier's work and sided with Assistant
District Attorney Heney against his
colleague in a dispute over a point of
law.
HAD READ PAPERS
Mcnamara was not wanted bv the
defense. He was man who had read
the papers and frankly said that he
held the opinion that Ruef was guilty.
However, his opinion was what is tech
nlcally known as q newspaper
opinion" 1t was based on narrative
and not on purported testimony and
was such that it could be set aside and
the defendant given a fair trial. the
juror said.
Mcnamara was challenged by Dozier
before the noon recess, and in support
OF the challenge was questioned for
tour hours AS the defense has ex-
haused the last of it's peremptory chal-
Ienges the juror must stay on the Jury
unless the defense can discover some
new point against him before he is
finally sworn.
A large percentage of the special
yenire of so men responded before
Judge Lawlor yesterday morning and
the court was strict in refusing ex-
cuses.
William Kegan, 1892 Howard street.
formerly a collector for the gas COM
pany' the first venireman examined.
said that he knew Langdon Ach dis
closed a new angle of the defense
possible attack on the integrity of the
district attorney-by asking Keegan if
such an attack would affect his opinion
OF the case HeneyN objected to the
question, declaring that there was no
basis for such an attack. Keegan said
that ne would like to see Ruef sent
across the bay and was excused.
Henry Bermeister, a loquacious tea
and coffee merchant, living at 13o
Cough street. declared his Willingness
to stay on the Ruef jury until Christ
mas. He said he knew ex-Supervisor
Boxton as a tooth doctor" He had
bought bread of Lonergan; Coffey had
drunk his coffee, and McGushin had
drunk his tea He believed Ruef
guilty and was excused in spite of his
willingness TO take his medicine" in
jury duty
Robert Coulter, Frank Kesler, Eugene
]. Merritt, Ernest D. Woodman and
Joseph A. Bush were excused for
cause.
INTERESTING VENIREMAN
William J. Evans proved an interest
ing venireman at the evening session
and was the target of Ach for MANY
puns. The latter asked Evans how
near he lived TO Bryan's home in Ne
braska. The reply from Evans that
he lived within walking distance"
stirred the courtroom to light laugh
ter and evoked a word of warning
from the court. Evans had not read
of the graft cases in San Francisco.
neither had he heard of the witnesses
in the cases. Il heard that there was
such man as Heney in town." de-
Ach. Ruef or the other men men
toned"
Evans was at one time assessor and
supervisor in Keith county. Neb.. and
while in that county heard considerable
about California graft"
William Oakley. who also remained
in the box at adjournment. declared
that he believed there was bribery
among the supervisors, but he could
try the case on the evidence adduced
of seven other veniremen examined
only one entertained the belief that
Ruef was innocent. William r. Dill
lon, 53S Haight street was of that
opinion and was promptly excused He
had an opinion and was prejudiced. The
other veniremen examined and ex-
cused for fixed opinions were: John
Tremaine, 726 Buchanan street; Chris
tian w. Hanson. 1886 McAllister
street; Robert ]. Walsh. 1874 Grattan
street; j. r. Johnson. Merchants ex-
change building; James S. Webster,
1925 Clay street; Timothy Mccarthy
and Charles l.. Hutchinson, 152 Fifth
avenue. A special venire of so names
was ordered by the court.