The San Francisco call., 1908-09-15

Sensations trembled in the balance
at the trial of Abe Ruef yesterday. but
although two Jurors were accepted and
two others questioned very pertinently
by Assistant District Attorney Heney,
nothing more startling than raucous
laugh was heard from the jury box and
the laugh only broke twice before the
humorous venireman was seeking to
cover his tracks and avoid the wrath
of Judge Lawlor and the interrogationS
of the prosecutor. Nine jurors had been
chosen, subject to peremtory challenge,
when adjournment was taken last
evening.
z Daily it seems more evident that
Ruefs is lost cause, and his attor-
ney, Henry Ach, betrays the slimness
OF his clients chances by the ques-
tions he puts. To every venireman who
is questioned at any length Ach puts
this Interrogation: If you were chosen
as juror and were celebrating on the
case and the other IL men had decided
that the defendant was guilty and
would say to you: Vote with US TO
find him guilty. the prosecution will get
him anyway; there are some 13 indict-
ments against him; vote guilty and let
US go home to our families'-would
you be persuaded by an argument like
that, If you believed the defendant to
be innocent?"
EXAMINED BY DETECTIVES
Thomas Dolan. a retired porter, liv-
ing at % Lotta street, was the first
venireman examined and passed yes
terday. 1t developed that Dolan had
been interviewed by some of Special
Agent Burns men.
You should stop this approaching
of jurors" said Henry Ach.
We have nearly stopped it, replied
Heney, I've showed you up"
To the CONSERVATION of the defense
Heney pointed out in the courtroom
the graft defense sleuth. Hayes. alias
Johnson, who was arrested for trailing
and interfering with Burns at the time
of the second Gallagher dynamiting.
Louis Bendel, q retired saloon keeper
of 700 Central avenue. was examined
by Heney relative to statements he had
made to W. S. SCHNEIDER, a detective
of the district attorneys office, work
ing with Burns. Heney challenged
Bendel on the ground that he was not a
nit person to serve as a juror as he had
stated that he took no interest in the
enforcement of the law unless he was
personally affected. The challenge was
denied by Ach. This morning Benders
state of mind will be further investi-
gated with the aid Of SCHNEIDER, who
was called as witness shortly before
adjournment yesterday.
Arthur Muessdorffer, a halter of 9O9
Fillmore street, was excused, and Jacob
Adams, brewer. was accepted with
much questioning.
APPROACHED BY SLEUTH
James Ward, an employe of the
FRIEDMAN furniture company, living at
1913 Union street, was the last tales
man examined. He had been approached
by a sleuth named Corngold, in the en-
ploy of the United Railroads bureau.
Ward said that he believed the graft
prosecution was all right until he
learned that eX-Supervisor Tom Loner-
gan had lost his money and was look
ing for job He laughed unpleas-
antly as he said that. Then / thought
he didn't get so much. do you see?'' he
said, cynically, to Heney.
Heney tripped UP the laughing
venireman. Later he called upon Judge
Lawlor to reprimand Ward. The court
had already warned Ward not to give
way to his mirth. Ward was very meek
before court adjourned. He was chal-
lenged for cause by Heney and ex-
cused.