Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-14

the frauds far enough to know that there
would be some ugly disclosures If the
thing were pushed through. Knox recon-
mended to President Roosevelt that He
ney take the job of bringing the land
thieves in.
Heney heard from Secretary Hitchcock
that the evidence seemed to involve
United States Senator John H. Mitchell.
Representative Williamson and q score OF
prominent men in the northwestern states.
Heney tackled the job. with William j.
Burns. a veteran member Of the secret
service, as his aid in getting evidence.
Heney convicted Senator Mitchell, con-
victed Representative Williamson. sent
w. n. Jones, wealthy timber Spectator.
to prison and had several prominent men
In California fighting for their freedom in
a legal tangle that is not yet unraveled.
His Biggest Work.
Heney had just finished his cleaning up
of the land thieves when he found the
biggest work of his life waiting for him
that Of Kidding San Francisco of a ring
of politicians and others who were be-
lieved to be trading on the open prof1igacy
of the municipal government.
Heney was made special prosecutor in
the Office of District Attorney LangdOn.
In San Francisco everything was under
the red flag and one man. Abe Ruef. was
the auctioneer. Every municipal privilege
business basis and paid its toll. even the
air was subsidized and advertisers who
flew kites had to pay something into the
pockets of Ruef and his mayor. Eugene
E. Schmitz. to continue their privileges.
When the prosecution started Ruef was
arrogant and confident: SchmitZ thought
so little of it that he went to Europe for
his health. Ruef tried to seize the office
of district attorney through his subserv-
lent board of supervisors, but he failed be-
prevent him. Then Ruef initiated CAM
paign to secure the election of judges
friendly to him. That plan failed. too
Meanwhile William j. Burns through a
series of remarkable feats of detective
work had played one supervisor against
another and finally got confessions from
nearly all of them. With these confess
sions Heney called grand jury. watched
carefully to see that it was not packed
and finally secured indictments against
Ruef and Schmitz on the charge Of ex
torting money from the keepers of res
taurants of unsavory reputation.
Ruef was arrested. gave bail and subse-
quently tried to disappear. but he was
back from Europe. was met by brass
band in San Francisco and hailed as
hero martyred.
Ruef's Confession.
When Ruef, despite every technical
he did startling thing. On May 1.-the
year was 19O7-he stood up in court after
Heney had put witness after witness on
the stand against him, and confessed to
the felony for which he had been indicted.
Then he told Heney a great deal about the
"men higher up" the business men with
whom he had made deals in franchises.
In return for his confession Ruef was not
sent to Jail Immediately, but was allowed
to remain under the care of court elisOr.
Schmitz was cOnVl cted and removed
from office Both Schmitz and Ruef ap-
pealed from their convictions on technf-
cal grounds. and the California appellate
court gave Heney tremendous setback
and reused the ire of the supporters OF
the prosecution by reversing the convic-
ton of both men January 10 last. Since
there were more than 100 indictments
against them they Immediately were re-
arrested. Ruef's case is now up again.
Against those men who were Implicated
on the confession Of Reuf and of the
supervisors Heney moved under greater
difficulties than he did when he was
prosecuting the boss and the mayor. Pat
rick Calhoun Of New York, the president
of the United Railroads in San Francis
come up. TREY l.. Ford, the attorney
for the railroad company. was tried
twice: the first jury disagreed and the
second acquitted him. Louis Class, the
president of telephone company. was
convicted, but his case is still before the
higher court on appeal. One or two others
of lesser note have been convicted.
During these latter months Heney's
work has been of heartbreaking char
acter. Several of the. San Francisco
the c!anlor of those who say that he is
playing game of revenge for Rudolph
Spreckles and that he is injuring bust
ness has been growing stronger.