"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft ProsecutionHichborn, Franklin
History
"The System," As Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution
Hichborn, Franklin
Political corruption -- California -- San Francisco; San Francisco (Calif.) -- Politics and government
[230] For fuller discussion of this testimony see Chapter "Ruef and
Schmitz Indicted."
[231] "You have not," said Heney to the trapped boss, "told us all
the truth in the United Railroads case. You have not told us
all the truth in the case of the gas rate matter. You have not
told us all the truth in the Bay Cities Water deal. You have
not told us all the truth about the deal with Herrin in
relation to the delegates from this city to the Santa Cruz
convention. You have not told us all the truth in the
telephone franchise matter. You lied to us in the Parkside
matter, and I caught you at it before the Grand Jury. You
tried to protect Will Crocker in that matter and told Burns
before you went into the Grand Jury room that you had never
spoken to him on the subject. You swore to the same thing in
the Grand Jury room until you cunningly guessed from my
questions that Will Crocker himself had told the truth to the
Grand Jury, and that I was getting you in a bad hole; you then
suddenly pretended to just remember that you had held one
conversation with Will Crocker on the trolley franchise matter
at the Crocker National Bank that lasted a half an hour, and
that you had held another conversation on the street with Will
Crocker on the same subject at the corner of California and
Kearny streets, which lasted an hour. You had not forgotten
either of those talks, but you did not think Will Crocker
would testify to them and you wanted to curry favor with him
by thus making him think you wanted to protect him, and you
did it because he is rich and powerful. You wanted his
influence hereafter to help keep you out of trouble, because
you have no idea of acting in good faith with the prosecution.
I don't believe you ever acted in good faith with anybody in
your life, but you have over-reached yourself this time."--See
Affidavit of Francis J. Heney, in The People vs. Patrick
Calhoun et als., No. 823.
[232] This answer came in the face of strong objection from
Schmitz's counsel. Mr. Campbell went so far as to direct
Schmitz not to answer. Mr. Barrett's objection was expressed
in a way that caused Judge Dunne to order him to his seat. The
several objections were overruled and the witness was directed
to answer the question.
[233] Heney, in an affidavit filed in the case of The People vs.
Patrick Calhoun et al., No. 823, says of Ruef's appearance: "I
did not at any time see or speak to Ruef, except when he was
on the witness stand, and then only from a distance and in
open court in the regular course of the trial and in the
performance of my duty as a prosecuting officer."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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