Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-07-02
CALHOUN JURY FAILS
TO REACH AGREEMENT
Famous Case Against President
of United Railroads at
San Francisco.

San Francisco. June discriminating
In q disagreement Of the jury with ~
men determined on acquittal and two
steadfastly resolved upon conviction,
the trial OF President Patrick Calhoun,
of the United railroads, ended at noon
yesterday.
Five months and a week had
transpired since the wealthy street car
magnate, a descendant of Patrick
Henry, made his first appearance In
court to answer to the charge OF offer
ing a bribe OF 81 900 to a supervisor to
obtain a privilege for his corporation.
Not until each juror had pronounced
as hopeless the prospect OF o verdict
was the order for their liberation made
by Judge Lawlor, the prosecution and
defense giving assent to the discharge.
History Of 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 administration
dominated by Mayor Eugene f. Schmitz
and Abraham Ruef was overthrow.
In November. 1905, Francis j. Heney.
already we'll known as q public prose-
cutor. charged In a public address that
Ruef and Schmitz were guilty of cor
ruption, and with w. j. Burns, for
merly q government secret service
agent, undertook IN investigation OF
privileges awarded several public serv-
Ice corporations.
The olivet grand jury. empaneled UNI
der the direction of Heney In October,
1906, in As hours, returned more than
800 indictments against various persona
charged with completely In h brib-
cries.
Calhoun, together with Abraham Ruef
and three subordinate officials OF the
United Railroads, was indicted on IL
$3.50 l-AAL - lf-
by q later grand jury. 1t was charged
that the corporation had secured from
the supervisors on May q, 1906, a per-
NIT authorizing substitution OF the
overland trolley system for the cable
lines partially destroyed by the earth
quake and fire OF April IS, 1905.
Calhoun and the other defend
ants were accused of having paid
Ruef, Schmitx and the supervisors
100000 for their services in se-
curing the permit for the company,
and each indictment was based up
or the money received by one of
the supervisors.
The prosecution. during the several
trolley trials. has attempted to prove
that Calhoun. on the day following the
mai passage OF the permit, sent from
New York TO the mint here $500, 600.
which he previously authorized the
min officials to pay to TREY l.. Ford
attorney for the United Railroads. The
money, as Is admitted, was withdrawn
in three installments by Ford. who pre-
scented orders signed by Calhoun. It
was alleged by the prosecution that
within a few days after each OF Ford's
visits to the mint, he received a call
from 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 sic, 900
for himself, had paid $4,000 to Andrew
M. Wilson, n OF his ~lieutenants. and
had given $4,000 to each OF the other
supervisors 1t was affirmed by the
prosecution that Ruef and Schmitz d.
vided the balance OF the fund, about
$115, 600.
The specific indictment upon which
Calhoun was tried was the offer OF a
bride OF $4,000 to Supervisor Fred r.
Nicholas, TO influence his action upon
the trolley permit. Nicholas admitted
acceptance of the money for that pur-
pose.
Warrants for Arrests.
In March, when the trial was nearly
two months old, warrants were issued
for the arrest OF William J.. Burns,
special agent OF the district attorneys
office. The list OF defendants, headed
by M. M. Abbott and Luther G.. Brown.
included Rex Hamlin, secretary to-
Burns, and three other OF Burns as
sistants, who confessed that they had
given private reports, letters and tele-
grams to John FL. Helms and the
agents Of the United Railroads.
4. On Saturday, March 26 and 27, :
/: the Offices Of Abbott, Brown, CAL
Z: houn and Mullaiy were raided by