"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
[281] President Calhoun's denunciation of Heney was scarcely
consistent with the high regard in which Heney was at the
opening of the prosecution, held by the United Railroads'
executives. So well did they think of Heney that they selected
him to sit on the Board of Arbitration which met late in 1906
to adjust differences between the United Railroads and its
employees. This fact was given by Acting Mayor Gallagher as
one of the reasons for removing Langdon from office, in
October, 1906, when the Graft Prosecution opened.
Specification 7 of Gallagher's order removing Langdon because
of the appointment of Heney reads: "Specification 7, That said
Francis J. Heney at and prior to the time of his appointment
as assistant district attorney was the representative of the
corporation controlling the street-car system of said city and
county (The United Railroads), in a certain dispute between
said corporation and its employees. That the appointment of
said Heney to said office will, in regard to the enforcement
of law against said corporation, be prejudicial and
detrimental to the interests of said city and county."
Heney resigned his position as arbitrator in the United
Railroads controversy soon after the prosecution opened.
[282] The graft defendants sent men to Arizona to have Heney
indicted, charging murder of a Dr. Handy. Years before, Heney
had taken the case of Handy's wife in divorce proceedings,
after other attorneys had declined it because of fear of
Handy. Handy had boasted that he would kill the man who took
his wife's case. After Heney had agreed to represent Mrs.
Handy, Handy announced that he would kill Heney with Heney's
own gun. He actually attempted this, and Heney, in
self-defense, shot him. Heney was exonerated at the time. When
the graft trials opened, first representatives of Ruef, and
then representatives of the United Railroads went to Arizona
for the purpose of working up this case against Heney, and if
possible secure his indictment for murder. Ruef's
representatives even went so far as to attempt to secure the
services of Handy's son to get Heney indicted. Young Handy
went to Heney, told him what was going on, and offered to go
to Arizona to protect Heney. But Heney declined to permit this
sacrifice. Young Handy expressed gratitude for what Heney had
done for his mother. Heney's brother, Ben Heney, with full
knowledge of what was going on, watched the efforts of those
who were endeavoring to make this case, long since disposed
of, a matter of embarrassment to the prosecutor. As the graft
defense investigators found nothing upon which to base a
charge this move against the graft prosecution failed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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