The San Francisco call., 1908-09-06
RIPS LARGE rent
IN MURPHY'S STORY
Blake, Indicted for Attempted
Bribery, Denies Plot to
Trap Kelly
Grand Jury VIII Renew lnyes-
tigatiOn and Attorneys May
Be Indicted

An important bit OF testimony that
contradicts Attorney Frank ].
Murphy's version OF the bribery scan
dal in the Ruef case, for which L. A S-
Blake was indicted Friday and in con-
nection with which Murphy and A. 5.
Newburgh have thus far escaped in
dictment only by the narrowest of mar
gins. was given yesterday by Blake
himself.
Blake partly repudiated the allega-
tions of his own affidavit, which was
presented by Murphy at the hearing
Thursday before Judge Lawlor. and
also ripped another rent in the story
OF the affair woven by Murphy. He
declared positively yesterday that he
had not been a party TO any plot ar
ranged by Murphy, Newburgh or any
one else to trap John Martin Kelly in
accepting bribe, and that such
thing was not suggested TO him.
Murphy asserted in his testimony be-
fore Judge Lawlor and the grand jury
that a trap had been planned with
Blake's knowledge, and that Blake was
10 procure witnesses and have them in
his office to observe the transaction
when Kelly called to get the money
which he had promised TO pay him for
his vote in Ruefs behalf. Blake has
not gone back on the story that Kelly
demanded money of him, and that he
then informed Murphy and Newburgh
OF the affair, but his statement yester-
day leaves it TO be understood that his
connection with the case ended there.
MURPHY,S VERSION INACCURATE
The discrepancy between this state
ment and those that Murphy has made
under oath is just about as wide as
some of the others that have occurred
in the course OF Murphy's explanations.
The latter has not yet explained some
OF the impossible complications of
dates and facts which characterized his
original testimony in Judge Lawlor's
court when the bribery sensation was
broached Thursday afternoon
The prosecution has by no means al
lowed the case to drop with the indict-
ment of Blake. but was steadily at
work gathering additional evidence
yesterday, and il is probable that when
the grand jury reconvenes the latter
part of this week an effort will be
made TO have all members in attend
ance, and the matter will be laid be-
fore il afresh, with the new evidence
that has been collected tending to i'm
plicate Murphy and Newburgh.
BLAKE SECURES RELEASE
After spending "a hours in jail,
Blake was released from custodyS1ast
night on an order signed by Judge
Sturtevant at o'clock His bondsmen
We're William Schmalz and Ralph
Friedman. money lenders, who proved
about $50. 600 justification each and
qualified for $1,000 each. They were
taken before Judge Sturteyant by
Attorney William II. Schooler who
was injected into the case yesterday as
Blake's counsel, after Blake had stated
several times that he was represented
by Attorney Martin Stevens. Through
what channel - Schooler's connection
was unexplained, for Sckooler himself
refused to talk about it. Asked If
Stevens would remain in the case
Schooler seemed unconcerned about
whether he would or not, but said he
supposed Stevens would have some
thing to do with il.
Schoolers first appearance in the
matter came unannounced Yesterday
morning. when he appeared before
Judge Sturtevant and asked to have
his clients cash bail reduced from
$4,000 to $500, with an equal reduc-
tiOn in the amount of bonds necessary.
Judge Sturtevant informed him rather
curtly that he had considered all the
facts in the case at length before fix
ing the bail originally, and that as the
crime, If one was committed, went di-
rectly to the foundation of govern
ment, he would not consent to any
change in the sum named.
POLICE COURT CASE DROPPED
The case against Blake in the police
court based on Kelly's complaint, was
dismissed yesterday morning by Police
Judge Cabaniss. p The latter explained
that he had signed the warrant for
Blake's arrest at the request of the
district attorney. with the understand i
ing that it would be dismissed in case
an Indictment was returned by the
grand jury. Assistant District At
torney Duke consented to the dismis-
sal and the order was made. AS Blake
stepped from the courtroom he was
served with a warrant on the grand
jury Indictment and turned over by
Detectives Conlon and Mackey to the
sheriff
Frank j. Murphy, who was the VIC
tim of a. bad case of nervous strain
while the grand jury was in session
Friday, had got back some of his usuaIi
buster yesterday, and while refrain
ing from discussion of the facts of
the case that might plunge him deeper
into suspicion, intimated that he was
considering some sort Of criminal
action against William J. Burns He
did not announce definitely the course
this action would take, but suggested
that II might consist of a charge in
volving Burns in a conspiracy to get
John Martin Kelly, Blake's accuser,
TO commit perjury.