The San Francisco call., 1908-05-17
CONNECTS HERRlN
WITH RUEF'S PLOT
Heney Implies S. P. Lawyer In
spired Plan to Seize District
/ Attorneys Office
Gallagher Tells of Conference at
Which Conspiracy Was
Hatched

That William f. Herrin inspired the
daring attempt of Abe Ruef and the
Doodle supervisors TO seize the, district
attorneys office from William H. Lang
don in order TO choke eff the graft In
vestigation, and suggest Ruef for the
place. was the implied charge made In
a question asked by Francis J. Heney IN
the Ruef trial yesterday. That Herrin
participated in Ruef's defense councils
through his handy man, Thomas V.
Gator, was also brought out In addi-
ton it was revealed that Henry Ach.
the attorney who is now fighting Ruef's
case. was another candidate for the
place, but withdrew in Ruefs favor.
These facts and a singing denuncia-
tlon by James L. Gallagher of Abe
Ruef, who, he charged had caused his
downfall, were the features of the trial
in Judge Dooiing.s court yesterday
The prosecution concluded its case, with
the exception Of one witness. who will
! be questioned briefly Monday. 1t is un-
| derstood that the defense viii present
no witnesses. and it is. therefore. prob
able that the case will go to the jury
the middle of this week
BAREs HERRIN's ALLIANCE
Ii was. through an unlucky stroke of
the probe welded by Henry Ach during
special cross examinat ton OF Gallagher
that Herrih's alliance withethe graft
forces> was barred Ach had had CAL
iagher on the stand all day. firing ques-
tions at him evidently as ..feeIers's 70
find out how much he knew. The han
hazard questions reverted to the at
tempt Of the board to oust Langden.
Heney having secured at the morning
session the admission in evidence OF the
affidavits of the supervisors made a.
that time Ach inquired as to a night
conference in Ruef's private Office. when
he, Thomas V. Gator. Ruef and Cal
lagher were present.
Don't you remember that we were
gong over the charges against Lang
don together?s
lagher. -'-
And do you remember who was sug-
gested for Langdon's successor
Yourself, Thomas V. Gator and
John Williams. Mr. Heney was also
mentioned in jocular way"
HENEY GOES DEEPER
Aeh passed on without further oues-
tlenlng, but when Heney took the wit
ness on redirect examination ba
brought up the Herrin subject.
AT this conference between Gator
Ach. Ruef and yourself do you remem-
| Der any one else suggested for the dis
trict attorneys office? Do you remem-
Der W E Herrin being suggested?"
Instantly Ach was on his feet. shout
inS at Gallagher 20 stop, while he fired
broadside of objections to the ques
/ tion.
TT was asked for an Interior mo-
tive he accused. The court ruled the
/ question out
Wei, at this conference did not
Gator suggest in behalf of Herrin that
Herrin was father of the scheme and
urged that 1t be adopted as good
idea?" continued Heney
Again Ach. prevailed with has objec-
tions.
Mr. Ruef suggested you. Mr.
1 Hehey," volunteered Gallagher.
Was there a round of applause at
/ that SUGGESTION
Well, not exactly" replied Gala
/ CHER, and even Ruef and Ach Joined
in the ripple of laughter that followed.
JUROR ASKS QUESTIONS
/ Juror Mohrig asked several questions
1 at the morning session which struck at
4 the keynote of Ruef's defense and Gal
/ laghers answers counted heavily
/ against the arch CRATER.
/ AT whose suggestion did you first
pay visits to Mr.. Ruef?" asked Mohrfg.
| why. generally l was sent for BY
Mr.. Ruef and sometimes I went of my
| own account"
/ Whom did you consider you repre-
sented. yourself, the supervisors or
| Mr.. Ruef?"
Il considered that I represented Mr..
Ruef''
Did the supervisors have any voice
with you or Mr.. Ruef as to the amount
of the bribe moneys paid them?''
| Not exactly; I usually went to them
and told them what Mr.. Ruef offered
Did they always accept2"
Well, sometimes they complained at
the amount. but they always finally
took the money"
Ach took the witness again and be-
gan to subject him to one of the most
caustic grillings he had yet used in his
attacks on witnesses. In reply Gala
CHER made one of the most bitter arr
raignments of Abe Ruef heard during
the trial
GALLAGHER Is GRILLED
Ach. in quiet tone. led Gallagher on
to tell of the various amounts he had
received and paid the supervisors. Then.
suddenly standing upright and shaking
! his .hand at Gallagher, Ach hurled his
words with biting scornfulness.
Then you, James l. lagher-you,
| a lawyer, a supervisor elect and man
/ who had judicial ambftions-for a pal
| try $500 and 5 per cent commission
$25 from each supervisor--you went TO
these IA supervisors and had them COM
NIT a crime that would send each OF
| them up for IA years and you for II
times Il years. Did you do that?'
! Gallagher sank back into the witness
| chair under the acrid torrent
I want to say, Mr.. Ach,H he replied
after moment, his voice poignant
with shame and in bitter recrimiRatfon.
! Il want to say that the money was not
| the consideration. What I did l did
through my loyalty to Mr.. Ruef. Up to
1 the time / met Abraham Ruef and en-
gagged in politics with him l had never
touched a dirty dollar nor committed
crime
Gallagher's voice almost broke.
II had lived in San Francisco all my
life he continued more quietly: Il had