Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-06-19
GREAT GRAFT CASE
N HANDS Of JURY
SENSATIONAL TRIAL 81 PATRICK
CALHOUN COMES TO END AT
GAN FRANCISCO.
MILLIONAIRE TRACTION MAN
Is CHARGED WITH BRIBERY

Most Important Of the Notorious Graft
Cases That Have Rended Political
Parties in 'Friseo-Thronss Storm
Court Room to Hear Hsney's Final
Plea. Il
San Francisco, June 19.-Concluding
the greatest issue in the history OF San
Francisco's graft scandal, the case of
Patrick Calhoun, millionaire president
Of the United Railroads, charged with
bribery, was given to the jury shortly
before noon today. after trial that
dates back to Jan. 12.
Assistant District Attorney Francis
J. Heney In the session of court that
opened an hour before the usual time
added materially to the argument that
had already extended over a period of
fifteen hours before Judge Lawler be-
gan his charge to the jury.
Every faction in municipal politics
Rnd every shade of bitter sentiment
that has arisen since the overthrow of
BOSS" Abraham Ruef three years ago
was represented in the overwhelming
throng that stormed the court room
doors this morning. Mounted police
charged into the crowd again and
again and the preservation of order
was q fierce task. The cost of the trial
is estimated at $4,000 and the type
written record Of the case amounts to
4,260,000 words.
History Of the Case.
Patrick Calhoun was one Of a score
of wealthy corporation officials indicted
as an outcome Of the municipal up
heaval of 1907, when the administra-
lion dominated by Mayor Eugene e.
Schmitz and Abraham Ruef was over
thrown. In November, 1905, Francis j.
Heney, already we'll known as a pub
lie prosecutor, charged in a public adj
dress that Ruef and Schmitz were
guilty of corruption, and with W. ].
Burns, formerly q government secret
service agent, undertook an investiga-
ton Of privileges awarded several pub
lie service corporations.
Rnef and Schmitz were indicted on
charges Of extorting, money from
French restaurant proprietors in Mo-
yember, 1906, after Ruef had failed in
an effort to seize the district attorneys
office thru his appointment by the
board Of supervisors,
The graft inves tigation, as 1t came
to be known, was conducted secretly
for several months following, but in
the early part Of March, 1907. Burns
succeeded in trapping Supervisors
Thomas F. Lonergan, Edward I. Walsh
and Charles F. Boxton in the act of
accepting money from Golden M. Roy,
a skating rink promoter who was act
ing in the interests Of the prosecution
Within a week, eighteen supervisors
had confessed their acceptance of
money from six sources. 1t was sub
sequently announced that the supervis-
ors had been promised immunity for
their testimony against the men
charged with Offering the bribes.
The Oliver grand jury, empanelel
under the direction of Mr. Heney in
October, 1905, heard the confessions Of
the supervisors on March 10, 1907, and
In forty-eight hours, returned more
persons charged with completely in the
briberies.
When Calhoun Came In.
Mr.. Calhoun, together with Abraham
Ruef and three subordinate officials Of
the United Railroads, was indicted on
fourteen counts. three of which were
returned by a later grand Jury. It was
charged that the corporation had se-
cured from the supervisors on May 81,
1905, permit authorizing substitution
OF the overhead trolley system for the
cable lines partially destroyed by the
earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906.
Calhoun and the other defendants were
accused Of having paid Ruef, Schmitz
and the supervisors 100000 for their
services in securing the permit for the
company, and each Indictment was
based upon the money received by one
OF the supervisors.
Ruefs trial upon one Of the so-called
trolley Indictments began August "a.
1908. There was an interruption Of
several days subsequent to Nov. 13,
whom Francis ]. Heney was shot down
In the court room by an ex-convict,
vino afterwards committed suicide in
the county Jail. Three volunteer pros
ecutors then took up the case, and on
Dec. 10. 1905, a jury returned verdict
Of guilty. On Dec. % Ruef was SEN
fenced to fourteen years in San Quen-
tin spenitentiarY, and since then has
been confined in the county jail, await
Ing action on an appeal.
Dividing tho SpoiIs.
The prosecution, during the several
trolley trials, has attempted to prove
that Calhoun. on the day following the
hnal passage OF the permit, sent from
New York to the mint here 5000 900,
which he previously authorized the
mint officials to pay to TREY L. Ford
The money, as is admitted, was with
drawn IN three installments by Ford
who presented orders signed by CAL
houn. II was alleged by the prosecu-
tion that within a few days after each
OF F'ord's visits to the mint he re-
ceiyed q call frote Ruef. Following
this assertion, James L. Gallagher.
chairman Of the supervisors, testified
that Ruef had paid him over $4,000
In July and an equal amount in the
following month. Gallagher said he
had- retained $4,000 for himself, had
paid 10000 to Andrew M. Wilson. one
:of his ueutenants, asd had given $4,000
70 each Of the supervisors. It was af-
iflrmed by the prosecution that Ruef
and Schmitx divided the balance OF the
fund. about 311S. 900.
ApAoido indictment upon which