Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-09
RUFF GOES
TO JAIL IN
OWN AUTO
JOINS scHMITZ, GLASS AND THE
BANKERS
Men Once Prominent in Political,
Social and Financial World of
San Francisco, Behind
Bars

BY Associated PresE
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. S.-After being
a prisoner Of state" for ten months
and kept in a private prison in the Gus
tody of an elisor. appointed by the court
with private guards, his own cook and
his own automobile in which he was al
lowed TO go out for an airing or attend
TO business matters, Abraham Ruef, for
mer political boss and the central hg-
ure in the San Francisco bribery-gratt
investigation and prosecution, at o'clock
tonight was taken from his comfortao ole
quarters at Fillmore street and Pacific
avenue and placed in a cell at branch
No. of the county Jail at Ingleside.
Not far removed from him is his former
chieftain, ex-Mayor Eugene z. Schmitz,
and Louis Glass, former general man
ager and vice president of the Pacific
States Telephone and Telegraph com
pany. convicted and sentenced TO five
years in San Quentin on the charge of
eonspiring to bride the board of super
visors through Ruef. Schmitz was con-
victed of extortion in the French restau-
rant cases, and sentenced to five years,
while Ruef pleaded guilty to the same
charge His sentence has not been
passed.
Ruef Sent to Cell
The transference of Ruef to the county
jail, with no more privileges and all the
restrictions of ordinary prisoners, took
place today when Sheriff Thomas j.
0Neill, who was disqualified by Judge
Dunno. went out of office and Sheriff
Lawrence ]. Dolan was installed.
The sending of Ruef to the county Jail
was done despite the influence of the
prosecution. and the desperate efforts Of
Ruefs friends to prevent this action.
The district attorneys office was OPP
posed to sending the former political boss
TO where Sohnlitz was confined. being ap-
prehensive, it was eaid, that the contact
and comforting of these two political con-
federates might result in placing further
obstacles In the way of the prosecution
In the bribery-graft cases.
For several days strong pressure was
brought to bear upon Judge Dunno. but
he was obdurate. and at L o'clock to-
day signed the order Diminishing William
]. Buggy. at present chief of police, who
was appointed elisor last March. Even
then several of Ruefs friends were still
hopeful of preventing his transference
to the county jail, or at least Of post
poning it until the arrival OF Francis j..
Heney. who is expected tomorrow.
Judge Dunno was asked to suspend the
operation of his order for one day. He
refused, stating that Ruef was now In
the custody of Sheriff Dolan, and the
latter might do as he saw fit.
Rides 20 Jail in Auto
At 2:30 Biggy and the new sheriff ap-
peared at Ruefs quarters and notified
the latter of the change of custodians A
little later, William j. Burns. special
agent for the prosecution, paid Ruef a
brief visit. and at o'clock, in the GUS
tody of Under Sheriff Peter Haggerty
and Deputy Sheriff Johnson. the former
political dictator of San Francisco
stepped into his own automobile. which
took him TO Ingleside.
Sheriff Dolan stated today that for
several days he would make no change
in the quarters of ex-Mayor SchmitZ and
Louis Glass. Each one of these prison.
ers is occupying a large, comfortable
room In the administration building of
the county Jail, and each eats at the
table with the officers and guards.
Later, Dolan intimated he probably
would put Schmitz and Glass In cells.
In the colony at the county Jail, not
able for its members who were formerly
high In political, social and financial
circles of the city. are ]. Dalzell Brown.
formerly general manager of the Califor-
MIA Safe Deposit and Trust company;
Walter J. Bartnett of the same institu-
ton and former vice president of the
Western Pacific Railroad company and
James Treadwell prominent mining man
and director in the wrecked bank.