The San Francisco call., 1908-05-13
CLINCH THE CASE
AGAINST ABE RUFF
Three Ex-Superyisors Strength
en- Evidence Given by "Big
Jim" Gallagher
Ach Evolves Defense That the
CRATER Was Victim of
Doodle Board

More witnesses for the prosecution will
be called, but their testimony will only
! serve to drive home the points already
made. Meanwhile Henry Ach evolves
more openly Ruefs- -audacious defense
that he was the victim of the rapacity
of the boodling supervisors. who held
him up"
! Three ex-supervisors were on the
stand yesterday. Phillips concluded
! his cross-examination Furey was ex-
amined by both sides and Coleman had
concluded his direct examination when
court adjourned last evening.
Each testified in corroboration OF the
evidence of big jim Gallagher, and
each held firmly to his story in spite
of the efforts of Ruefs attorneys to
shake their testimony. Almost the en-
tire history of the graft cases was
thrashed out before the jury in the
questions put to various witnesses.
NIGHT SESSIONS THE RULE
Night sessions have now become the
rule, Judge Maurice Dooling having
Informed both sides that they will con-
tinue until the end of the trial 1t is
believed possible that the case may go
to the jury near the end of this week.
ACH OPENS THE WAY
A question asked Monday by Ach in
his cross examination of Phillips
opened the way to Heney on the re-
direct examination yesterday for the
like TO keep out. 5Ach's question was
simply:
Did Mr.. Ruef ever ask you to do
anything wrong. Mr.. Phillips?"
But it gave Heney the right to in
quire into everything wrong" Ruef
had caused the supervisors to do. AS
result the Home telephone bribery
and the Bay Cities water project were
brought before the jury. as well as the
manner in which Ruef welded his
power over the board of supervisors.
At the opening of the morning ses-
sion Heney began Phillips redirect
examination. Reverting to Ach's ques-
ton. Heney repeated it again with an
addition:
Did Mr.. Ruef ever ask you to do
anything wrong while you were su-
pervisor, Mr.. Phillips?H
Well, there was the Bay Cities mat
ter"
What did Ruef tell you about
that?"
He said there would be consider
able money in 1t for me if it went
through"
Anything else7"
Yes, the telephone franchises"
How about them2"
APPROACHED BY HALsEY
Il was first approached by Mr.. Hal
sey Of the Pacific States company, who
told me there would be considerable
money in it for me II l would help
defeat the Home company's project.
told Ruef about this and he answered
that he preferred the Home scheme,
and that l ought to vote for II. He
said there would be considerable
money in it if it went that way"
After that conversation with Ruef
what did you tell Halsey?"
L went TO him and was assured by
him that he already had a majority in
the board TO vote for the matter He
promised me $1,000 and gave me $4,000
at the time"
When it came up for vote what hap
pened?"
L was thirteenth in the votings list
Of supervisors, and by the time it came
my turn to vote 1 saw the majority
was against it, and so 1 voted that
way"
What did HaIsey do?"
to him.
Have you done SOP
Not yet; have not had good op-
portunity"
WHAT ABE RUFF SAID
When you first told Ruef about your
having been approached by Halsey,
what did he say about Halsey?"
He said Halsey was trying to take
the board away from him and that l
ought to take the money from him
that he ought to be punished"
In what other. matters did Gala
gher act as a go between for Ruef?"
I'm the fight trust affair. We got
the money for that
Taking the witness on recross ex-
animation Ach went over the same
ground with him again. He endeav-
ored to show by witness that Ruef
could have had the Parkside franchise
passed simply by asking for it from
the members. Phillips replied that was
correct
Did you ever receive any money
from Gallagher in the Home telephone
matter"
Yes, I got $4,000 in addition to the
$4,000 from Halsey."
TELLS OF BRIDES RECEIVED
Before leaving the stand Phillips said
that in various transactions while Ruef
was political boss he had received s475
from the fight trust. $3.50 from the gas
grab. $4,000 from Halsey for the Pa
cihc States telephone company and
$4,000 from Gallagher for the Home
company.
Ex-Supervisor Jack" Fury was
called. He took the witness chair
quietly. enduring without hinchinE the
grilling examination Of Ach. Furey
said that it had been the general un-
derstanding in the board that Gal
lagher was acting for Ruef. and he
most certainly had not been delegated
to act for. them by the supervisors.
He said the first time he had been an
preached with bribe offers was when
Gallagher met him shortly after his
election in the anteroom of the mavor,s
chambers. where he said: / am act
ing for Ruef in these little matters
and l want you to know that the bovs
will be treated fairly in all Of them .
Daniel Coleman was next on the
stand. He told practically the same
story as those who had preceded him
He stated that after the Parkside fran
chise had been held UP and later passed
and no money had been forthcoming he
had gone to Ruef direct Ruef told
him that he could not do anything
about 1t at the time.