The San Francisco call., 1908-12-03
RUFF RENTED BOX
DAY AFTER BRIBERY
Testimony Connects Schmitz
With United Railroads Troll
ley Transaction
Witnesses Tell of Visits of TREY
L. Ford TO Mint and the
Subtreasury

:. New testimony, significantly con-
Meeting the name of former Mayor Eu-
gene +. Schmitz with circumstances re-
lating 10 the United Railroads trolley
.pTiDery transaction, was introduced into
toe Ruef trial yesterday. James c.
sharp, custodian OF the safe deposit
vaults Of the Western national bank
laenuned and explained entries in the
DOCKS ot the bank showing the rental
Of three deposit boxes by Ruef.
=: The signature OF the former boss
placed In the bankbook at the time
lhese boxes We're rented were fol-
lowed In each case by the entry Care
b OF Mayor Schmitz, 25O5 Vallejo street. -
ne third box was rented by Ruef
May 25, 1906, the day following the
payment Of the first installment OF the
-troiley bribe. Sharp testified that on
inns occasion Ruef had a package in his
arms and declared that he did not have
room In either Of the other boxes for
its contents.
Thomas p. Burns. cashier of the
United States subtreasury, told Of two
visits OF TREY l. Ford 10 his ONCE IN
inc mint shortly after the fire. The first
= lsit was July 81, 1906, on which occa-
sion Burns gave Ford $4,000 in cur
rency In exchange for the same amount
oI gold which Ford had secured from
lhe mint When Ford made his third
flst 10 the mint. August %. he called
upon Burns a second time and received
fiVVOO9 In currency in exchange for
gold. This. Burns. stated. was prin-
cipally in bills OF 500 and $50 denom-
nations.
LOCO BILLS FIVE INCHES THICK
Burns stated that since the question
mad been raised by Ruers attorneys
concerning the bulk of a package con-
TaII 1ar \
Experimental and found that a package
containing l.0G0 bills would be five
-lcnes thick two and a half inches
vide and seven inches long Accord
ir 10 this ii would be possible TO pack
several thousand bills into a box the
size Of the one in which Gallagher de-
ciared he placed the bribe money given
him by Ruef
Most of the day was given to the ex-
animation Of a number of United Rail-
roads officials and employees concerning
their knowledge Of visits by Ruef to
foro at the Oak and Broderick street
Offices Of the United Railroads. but the
testimony was hazy and unsatisfactory
All the witnesses remembered having
seen Ruef at For6's Office on one or two
occasions after the fire. but could not
give definite dates or the nature of any
transaction between Ruef and Ford.
On cross examination the defense
tried TO show that Ruefs visits were
incidental 10 the work Of the Iegisla-
tive branch Of the committee Of fifty
Of which both Ruef and Ford were
members. No connection was shown.
however that proved in any way the
contention advanced.
During the examination of Charles F.
King. q clerk in Ford's Office. Matt J.
sullivan was aroused by an insult
hurled by Henry Ach to the point Of
= S Ha 10 20 sae
counselor. Ach had asked the witness
- sketch diagram of the United
Railroads Offices on a small blackboard,
in order TO show the relative location
Of Ford's Office to that of other officials.
sullivan suggested that perhaps Ruef
could draw the diagram"
'Or perhaps you could. Mr.. Sullivan"
snapped Ach. You've been up there
often enough demanding money"
SULLIVAN PASSES LIE
That's an infamous faIsehood,"
cried Sullivan. Il denounce that state
ment as absolutely untrue"
Ach did not follow up his charge, but
lamely explained that he understood
the law firm Of which Sullivan is
member had a suit pending against the
United Railroads, in which an attempt
had been made to secure a settlement
A minute later Ach flippantly sug-
get him a piece Of chalk. and for this
was warned by the court that his
cheap remarks" must be dispensed
with.
p George Francis, private secretary and
chief clerk 10 Ford and Abbott, was on
the stand during the greater part of the
morning. His testimony dealt with his
recollection Of seeing RUef at Ford's
Office after the fire. and similar testf-
mony was given by Charles p Gale.
Charles r. King and Miss Celia McDer-
mott OF the same Office.
louis A. Fox, the chauffeur who sue
ceeded Alec Latham IN Ruefs employ
testified TO having driven Ruef once to
Ford's Office some time in September.
1906 Secretary George B. willcutt and
Treasurer Adam NJ Dahler of the
United Railroads were called and ad-
nitted that no sums Of $4,000 or $780,
600 in currency had been handled by
them during the months Of May. June.
July or August, 1906. Dahler was in
structed to return TO court this morn
ing, bringing with him all vouchers for
those four months. During his testi-
mony Il was brought out that the cash
book and other records Of the United
Railroads covering this period had
been removed to New York, ostensibly
for an accounting.
William J. Dingee. Schmitz' friend
and bondsman, was one Of the several
witnesses in attendance yesterday aft
ernoOn who were not reached. Dineee
objected when ordered 10 return at IL
o'clock this morning, declaring that he
had other business to attend to, but
the order Of court was allowed to stand.
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