Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-14
Offer to Take Heney's Place.


THE CITIZENS LEAGUE OF JUS
TICE.'
Offer to Take Heney's Place.
Hiram Johnson and Matt j. Sullivan,
two attorneys who spoke at the gathering
last night. announced they had offered
heir services to the district attorney as
substitutes for Heney.
While moderation was counseled by all
the speakers, there were at the outset
3nmistakabla expressions of hostility to
The courts and predictions that Haas Will
GOT lack aid in his defense
Former Mayor James D. Phelan charged
yesterday that the crime must have been
Inspired.
Rudolph Spreckles. the millionaire bank
er who financed the prosecution of the
supervisors and Ruef, and who has been
in frequent attendance Mt the trials,
said
1T is time that drastic measures were
used TO suppress the reign of lawless-
ness"
Haas had planned carefully his attempt
upon Heney's life. In the basement OF
his home are the marks of numerous bull
let holes. indicating that some person had
heen firing at a target. Neighbors have
been found who recall having heard the
reports of revolver shots at various times
during the past fortnight
Added 10 this is the statement of wit
nesses in the courtroom, of whom there
are dozens. Attorneys and newspaper
men, policemen and detectives all appear
TO have noticed Haas wherf he was within
few feet of his unsuspecting victim.
Two private detectives assigned to
Heney as bodyguards were within ten
feet of him. While both observed the
mans intention in time to spring for his
extended arm, they were too late.
Haas had the weapon within few
inches of Heney's head when he fired. 1t
is the danger of blood poisoning resulting
from burned powder or other matter in
the wound that is most feared
Burns Questions Haas.
The official interrogation of Haas took
place i'm the courtroom few moments
after the wounded prosecutor had been
removed to hospital. The prisoner was
seated on the edge of a table. At times
his wandering gaze fell upon the pools
of blood on the floor where Heney had re-
clined
There were present as interrogators
Thief of Police Buggy, Capt. Duke and
Detective Burns, the latter doing most OF
The questioning.
In his answers Haas seemed at times
wandering and somewhat incoherent.
Time and again his mind reverted to the
exposure brought about by the prosecu-
ion. While he several times expressed
regret at what had occurred, at other
points in the inquisition he spoke of the
shooting as a matter decided upon and
TO be accepted as a matter of course.
Haas first described his movements
yesterday. He told of a trip In the morn
ing to the Office of the auditor. where he
received and cashed warrant for jury
service Next he visited friend, Samuel
Levy and borrowed $40. of which he gave
s10 to his wife upon his return home.
Leaving his home again he had two
glasses of beer. and then visited
nickelodeon. where he remained to see
M niCtllroS
he returned to his home, remaining there
until half an hour before the shooting,
when he walked to the courtroom.
Haas was questioned closely about his
the shooting was done and OF number
Of extra cartridges found in his pocket.
He said he had owned the weapon since
1901. that 1t had been in his pocket since
Thursday and that he had carried IT at
various times during the past. few years.
Exposure His Motive.
In discussing his motive for his attempt
upon the life of Heney, Haas continually
referred to the disgrace of his exposure
by the prosecutor. His answers conveyed
the idea that he had brooded over the
public reference to his past life.
Some Of the replies were as follows:
What was your reason for shooting
Heney?"
Just fer humanity's sake" he replied.
Why did You not shoot Ruef for hui
manity's sake?
Because Ruef did not denounce me that
day.
.'Oh, what I suffered since then-don't
talk. j did not do 1t for my sakeI had
to do it. 1 didn't take any revenge on
Heney-
Il would talk to myself. I called my
self q cur, a coward. / said: Why don't
you meet Heney? What is my life worth?
l am only exposed wherever I CO.
Don't forget, Mr.. Burns, I go married
seventeen years ago and raised family
Of four children. Now. look at what
those children have suffered already by
ny being in the papers. My boy was so
proud when first my name appeared in the
paper"
us 1t not true you tried to qualify as
4 juror and get on the jury when you
were not qualif1ed?" Haas was asked.
II am an elector. That is higher than a
Juror / voted yesterday, / voted a week
ago Tuesday. ! got pardon from Gov
Waterman
1T is a public record that l was in
San Quentin. Why didn't Heney look up
my record?
Il wish anybody would come and shoot
ne. Let them hang me. What do care?
[ don't care absolutely snap.
Il had only two jobs since 1 left San
Quentin. and l was knocked both times.
At that time there wasn't more than a
dozen people knew about it.
Il have been going to the nickelodeons
10 hide myself. It's dark there.
"Heney knew / was going to get him.
He must have felt it in his bones.
Il would be ashamed to live among you
men. Do you think j would be de-
aounced?"
Haas repeatedly denied he had communi-
.ated his intention to any one. He said
he had been in the courtroom but three
Dimes since his discharge as juror. He
vas in court on Tuesday Wednesday,
md according to the recollection of one
'fficer was ordered back into seat by a
policeman
DRleiDCNT enRRV EnR uENEv