Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-11-19
SAYS HENEY
RUINED HIM
Rejected Juror Shoots at Prosecutor
During Recess of Court.
Was Ex-ConvictgiWho Had Been Ex-
posed During Second Ruef Trial
Wound May Not Prove Fatal
Ruef Sends Chaffeur for Doctor
and Denounces Crime.

San Francisco, Nov. 14.-The San
Francisco bribery graft cases had
dramatic climax yesterday, when As
sstant District Attorney Francis J.
Heney, who has been i'll charge OF the
prosecution during its course OF two
years, was shot and seriously wound
ed in the crowded courtroom by Nor
ris Haas, an ex-cOnvlct. The shoot
ing occurred during brief recess in
the third trial of Abraham Ruef on
the charge of bribery, which is now i'll
its 11th week.
With four uniformed policemen in
the hall, half dozen of the prosecu-
tons special detectives within a few
feet, one of them detailed especially
as his bodyguard to see that no at
tempt was made upon his life, and
several court bailiffs and attaches
scattered about, the aggressive special
prosecutor, whose fearless and relent-
les work in the exposure and proSecu-
ton of graft in the municipal affairs
of this city, earned him many enc
mics, was shot in sight of 500 persons.
Mr.. Heney is now in the Lane hos
pital, and the physicians say that his
wound is not fatal. Haas is in the
city prison The would-be assassin is
a Jew and saloonkecper, who was
drawn upon the jury panel in the sec
ond trial of Ruef, and, after having
been temporarily passed by both
sides, was exposed i'll dramatic man
ner by Mr.. Heney as an ex-cOnvlct
and discharged from the jury Haas
declared after the shooting that Heney
had ruined his life by this exposure,
and that he had determined to kill
Mr. Heney for that reason.
Mr. Heney was leaning over on his
table. conversing in low tones with
Al. McCabe, chief clerk of the district
attorneys office. Directly in front
OF him was James L. Gallagher, the
witness, and a representative OF the
Associated Press had just walked to
Mr.. Heneys table. and was standing
at his left elbow, waiting for an op-
portunity to speak to him, when a
small man, neatly attired and having.
a decidedly Jewish cast of counte-
nance, approached the assistant dis
steps, but with deiberation. Sudden
ly his right hand shot out, and before,
the newspaper man. Mr.. McCabe or
John Foley, Mr.. Heney's special body
guard. sitting about eight feet away,
could make move, there was a flash
and loud report rang through the
courtroom.
Ruef and his two attorneys, who
were out on the sidewalk. were
startled by the report and started for
the courtroom, but were forced down
the steps by the crowd rushing fran
tically out
What has happened?" shouted
Ruef to the Associated Press repre-
sentative as the latter ran out to the
nearest telephone.
"Heney has been shot was the
reply.
Ruef's automobile stood in front of
the building. and he Immediately or
dered his chauffeur to get the nearest
The car returned few
later with DR.. A. S. Tuchler,
of 703 Van Ness avenue.
My God exclaimed Mr.. Ach Il
wish | had never taken a criminal
case in my life | will never take an
other when get out OF this one.
This is dastardy outrage. ! cannot
express myself in strong enough
terms. Mr. Heney did not denounce.
this man Haas. if he is the one who
did the shooting In pursuance of his
duty he disclosed the fact, during the
other trial of Mr. Ruef, that Haas was
an ex-convict, and as such had him
from the jury box | sin
cerely hope that Mr. Heney will re
cover
The report of the attempted assas-
'ination spread throughout the city
ike wildfire, and caused intense ex-
,itemcnt and Indignation. An immense
,rowd gathered aro.nd Carpenters
Hall. to which Judge Lawlor had
moved his court this week on account
If the lack OF room and facilities in
he temporary criminal court building
Several hundred persons followed the
ambulance from the hail to the Cen
raj Emergency hospital, and down
own thousands gathered around bul-
ctin boards.
Judge LaWlor rccOnvencd court at
':15. He had already sent the jury
o the St. Francis Hotel in charge of
leputy shcriffs. AS soon as a sem
dance of order was restored, the
ourt ordered Ruef, who has been at
liberty on bonds aggregating 81 1900
90. into the custody of the sheriff
nd he was soon afterward taken to
he county Jail. His counsel offered
ormal objections. Mr.. Dozier then
emanded that Gallagher, the witness.
e also ordered into the custody of
he sheriff until his cross examination
ad been finished. This was refused