The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-06-03
RUFF, FEARING
FOR HIS HOARDS,
TRANSFERS THEM
Deeds Practically All His Prop
erty TO Members of
His Family
Guards Against Loss Through
Civil Action or Con-
victiOn
Arch CRATER May Now Make
New Effort to Secure
Release on Bail

By transferring his property in this
city to members of his family, Abe
Ruef has undertaken policy of re-
trenchment designed to protect him
from peouniary loss through conhsca-
ton of any portion of his i'll gotten
gains IN the event Of his conviction on
9 criminal charge or in case of judg-
ment against him through civil action.
Instead Of being a millionaire, Ruef
is destined shortly to be practically a
pauper. Eighteen gift deeds executed
by Ruef. Marie R. and Aaron Altman
ard Louis r. and Aaron Herenghi.
transferring valuable property in the
north side OF the city TO Henrietta Sit
I. tenfeld and Meyer Ruef. the sister and
father or the arch CRATER. We're placed
on record yesterday in the recorders Of
{. fee. The deeds were signed May %.
IT is supposed that Ruefs action is
due ITO a desire 10 protect his interests
. in. .ease damages should be recovered in
q suit already hled against him by Jo-
seph A. Sullivan. a stock holder of the
Uuited Railroads investment company.
or in any other suit which might be
fled al a later date The property in
question is composed OF a number Of
xaiuabIe parcels which it has always
been understood We're purchased by
Ruer with corruption money wrung by
Elin from various sources while he was
tlx political boss of the city. and the
trahsfer includes practically all of the
real property which now stands in his
1siAe..
Marie r. and Aaron Altman are re-
.sxpectively the sister and brother in law
p. OF, Ruef. The property conveyed by the
deeds is mostly situated in the North
Beach district and in upper Kearny
street, while two Of the lots are tide
lands.
When questioned yesterday about the
transfer Ruef declared that it was
purely q personal and private matter
which concerned only himself and his
family. However. the explanation gem
ERALS. accepted by those who are closely
associated with him is that he desires
10 save his estate from disintegration in
the event that he is convicted and sent
TO the. penitentiary. and to avoid being
forced TO return any OF the money he
has collected illegally in case a civil
action goes against him.
Another theory suggested yesterday
as a possible explanation for the record
fng OF the gift deeds is that Ruef is
preparing to make another effort to Sc
cure his release from the county jail
on bail. Some time ago Ruef tried to
dnd surety company TO go on his
bonds pending his trial. but the securi-
~ offered was not considered sufficient
and. he was refused. With the prop
erty' in other hands. beyond the danger
. of confscation, Ruef might have a bet
. ter chance to secure the bonds which
would give him the coveted liberty. and
the effort to find bonds may be re-
.vived.
p. The suit which Ruef most fears.
however. is that filed about two weeks
ago by Joseph A. Sullivan for 100000.
saslfvan is q stock holder OF the United
Railroads 6nvestment company, the
parent OF the United Railroads. and
asks. the damages as money illegally
paid 10 Ruef as a bribe to secure the
passage OF the overhead trolley fran
chise. The case is now pending in
Judge seawelrs court. the United Rail-
roads and the United Railroads invest
ment company being named as Ruefs
. .co-defendants.