The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-19
Frisco Banker Sits Undisturbed
Under Heney's Rapid
Fire Questions
BITTER ALTERATIONS
ARE FREQUENT IN COURT
Spreckels viii Produce In Court His
Personal Account Showing Money
He Has Expended In the
Prosecution of Graft.

San Francisco. May 1S.-Rudolph
Spreckels whose name has been writ
ten into the records of every days pro-
ceedings since the trial of Patrick
Calhoun commenced. more than five
months ago had his innings in court to-
day.
Through a cross -examina tion replete
with singing invectives and insinua-
tions he sat undsturbed, disclosing the
innermost secrets of graft prosecution,
reciting the substantial payments he
had made to its officers and agents and
disclaiming utterly the motives i'm
puted to him by Attorney Earl Rogers,
who conducted the inquiry for the de-
fense. The bitter alterations that
have always followed the injection of
Mr. Spreckels into the trial had pre-
pared crowded court room for a sue
cession of angry disputes but the exam
ination was practically concluded with
only few brief exchanges. Assistant
District Attorney Heney, who had
promised to permit the widest possible
scope in cross examination, offered a
dozen objections through out the day
and inquiry developed into duel of
witticisms between the witness and his
questioner. Many times during the day
Mr.. Spreckels took exception to
Statement Included IN one of Mr. Rog-
ers' questions and laely declared the
utterance was untrue.
spreckIes Excused.
Late in tn e day Mr.. Spreckel was
excused until tomorrow with the un-
derstanding that he will produce in
court his personal account of the
many thousands of dollars he admitted
he had expended in behalf of the graft
prosecution.
Mr.. Rogers plunging into the mat
ter of the financial support Mr.. Spreck-
els has accorded the reform movement,
ascertained without the slightest pro-
test the details of tn ese expenditures.
The total Mr.. Spreckels said he was
unable to remember, but he admitted
that he had paid the rent and expenses
of Mr.. Heney's private law office for
a long time and that these Items
amounted to between $500 and $500 a
month. 1t was likewise admitted that
Mr.. Spreckels bad for a long time paid
a considerable sum to Charles W.
Cobb, Mr.. Heney's partner, and in pur-
suance OF an agreement, made at the
outset of the prosecution. 1t was dis
closed, Mr.. Spreckels is to pay to Mr..
Cobb $4,000 more.
did you make the arrangement by
which Mr.. Heney was not to receive
any salary for his services from the
city," was asked.
No, l knew that such was the case,
but I believe Mr.. Heney personally vol
mfr In ic col Il f1a >
ness.
The witness said he had requested
District Attorney Lansdon 10 appo...,
Mr.. Heney member OF mis- sian Il .el
he had obtained from the prosecutor
an agreement to accept
Heney Starts Something.
Assuming the direct examination of
Mr.. Spreckels, Assistant District Attor-
ney Heney apparently throwing aside
legal restraint went Immediately into
the motives and reasons that actuated
the defendants.
The inquiry had been progressing but
few minutes when violent alterca-
tion arose. The street car strike of 1907
was responsible for this. Mr. Heney
was defending his right to introduce con-
versations between third parties when.
as he charged the motives of a witness
were attacked
L
ters for which they are responsible" said
Mr.. Heney. II am framing my questions
80 that they may go into every do
main of this mystery
You are not doing it, however," said
Mr. Rogers, who stood close to Mr.. Hen
ey's place at the counsel table.
This witness is expected to be tell
ing the truth" said Heney in very dry
tones as he arose from his seat and faced
Mr. Rogers.
do you expect US to be limited or
bound by your dirty insinuatlons?' he
asked.
81 don't know why you should refer
to dirty insinuations unless it is be-
cause of your inner consciousness" in
terrupted Mr.. King of Georgia and as
other attorneys for the defense arose
to engage in the discussion Judge Law
ior ordered all to resume their seats.
Mr. Spreckels began by denying that
he had ever traversed the streets in Abb
raham Ruers company to inspect pro-
posed street railway routes.
He declared that he had never dis
cussed the policy of the graft prosecu-
ton with Charles s. Wheeler, his at
torney, and Mr.. Heney asked:
did you ever suggest or intimate to
any person connected with the prosecu-
ton that they should seek to have any
person indicted ?"
IT did not" said Mr.. Spreckels.
Cross Examination.
On cross-examination Mr.. Spreckels
said Ruef had visited his office three
times between 1901 and 1906.
II recollect in particular" he said. 'one
. interview with Ruef that called my at
: tention the need of an investigation.
Muef came to my office and suggested
Eiat | get up a syndicate to bid on
Municipal bonds about to be issued. He
u 4omised that bids would be preceded
suh strike. was Mortified by the sug-
xtlon.
Ruef assured me the bid Of the syndi-