The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-19
TRIAL OF CALHOUN
Financial Hackers Of T'he Graft Pros
ecution Tells what He Knows
Z of Ruef, which Led Up To
The Cmlhoum Charges.

San Francisco. May 1s-Interest in
the trial Of Patrick Calhoun. President
OF the United Railways. revived to an
extraordinary extent today because of
the appearance on the witness stand
OF Rudolph Spreckels. financial bascker
of the graft prosecution.
= Resuming the direct examination of
Mr.. SpreckeIs, Assistant District At
torney Heney. apparently throwing
aside legal restraint. went immediately
into the motives and reasons that act
usted the witness in his opposition to
the United Railways plan Of street rail-
way Development. The inquiry had
been progressing but few minutes
when q violent alteration arose. The
street ear strike OF 1907 was responst-
BILE for this Mr. Heney was defending
his right to Introduce conversations be-
tween third parties when. as he charg-
ed. the natives of witness were at
tackled: SIT
They do not dare go into these mat
tiers for which they are responsible
said Mr.. Heney. 'T am framing my
questions SO that they may 80 into
every domain OF this mans life.
~You, are not doing It, however" said
Mr.. Rogers. who stood close to Mr.
This witnebs is expected 70 be telling
the TRUTH" said Mr.. Heney In angry
tones, ss he rose from his seat and
$40 YOU expect us to be limited or
bound by your dirty insinuationsr ne
asked. As
TIaI don't know why you should refer
10 dirty insinnationss unless II y Pc
cause Of your inner consciousness M
terruptad Mr.. King of Georgia. and as
other attorneys for the defense arose
to engage In the discussion, Judge
Lawler ordered all to resume their
seats. EA
Mr.. spreckeisl began by denying that
he had ever traversed the streets IN
Abraham Ruefs company to inspect
proposed street railway routes. he de-
clared that he had never discussed ine
nolIcy OF the graft prosecution with
Charles s. Wheeler. his Attorney aEu
Mr.. Heney asked: Il
"Did YOU ever suggest or intimate TO
any uerson connected with the prose-
cution that they should seek to have
any person indicted?
II ala not" said Mr.. Spreckels.
Mr.. Spreckeis stated that Thomas
gallagher had asked IL the prosecution
could extend to Abraham Ruef the ex-
emption from punishment conveyed TO
N.I told MIN" SAID the witness. shat
we would have to deal directly with
the District Attorneys once in this
matter. / said had no luminosity
against Ruef personally and believed
that Mr.. L4angdon and Mr.. Heney had
none 80 -
on cross examination Mr.. Spreckeis
said that, Ruef had visited his office
three times between 1901 and 1906. Il
recoilect In particular he said, zone
interview with fuef that called to my
attention the need for an investigation.
Ruef came TO my ONCE aud suggested
that 1 get up a syndicate to bid on mu-
nicipal bonds about TO be issued. He
promised that bids would be preceded
BY a strike. was Mortified by the
suggestion.
'Ruef assured me that the bid Of the
svndfcate would be accepted and he
ITonid guarantee that we would not
have to bid above par for the bonds. I
asked him how this could be done and
he said: That's a simple matter. When
the bids are about to be submitted, we
VIII have the biggest strike this town
ever saw. I'll tie up everything. in
cludinR the street railways. Then ia
like to see any OF your capitalistic
friends except those IN on theknow''
submit bids for these bonds
/ asked RuSf IL he really intended
for the sake OF making money to
bring on a strike that might result in
bioodshed and he said he was only jok-
ing. but his face flushed and he with
drew from my ONCE