Ruef appeared two hours later. He was that morning to have represented the defendant in a murder trial, The People vs. Denike, but began the day by formally withdrawing from the case on the ground that as District Attorney he could not appear for the defense. He appeared in the police courts ready to prosecute a libel suit which he had brought against the proprietor of the San Francisco Bulletin, but the justice had been served with Judge Seawell's restraining order and the libel-case hearing was postponed. In Judge Dunne's department of the Superior Court, Ruef received something of a setback. The Court made a special order permitting one of Langdon's deputies to prosecute in a criminal action then pending, regardless of who might be District Attorney. The restraining order kept Ruef and Woodworth out of the District Attorney's office. By noon it was evident that at the big event of that eventful day, the impaneling of the Grand Jury, Langdon, and not Ruef, would, as District Attorney, represent The People. FOOTNOTES: [95] Gallagher testified at the trial of The People vs. Ruef, No. 1437, to the conversation at Ruef's law offices when Ruef first broached the matter of Langdon's removal, as follows: "The substance of the conversation was that Mr. Ruef stated that it might become necessary to remove Mr. Langdon from the office of District Attorney, and to appoint somebody else. I replied that that was a matter for him to make up his mind on; if he determined it had to be done. I would do it; words to that effect. I cannot give the exact language." [96] The San Francisco Chronicle, in its issue of October 26, thus describes the proceedings attending Langdon's removal: "Gallagher took the chair at 6:30 p. m. and there was ten minutes' perfunctory business. "His honor seemed uneasy, but at the careful prompting of Secretary Keane, he called for 'communications from executive officers.' "Keane then announced, 'From his honor, the Mayor,' and read Gallagher's letter suspending District Attorney Langdon 'for neglect of duty' and sundry other charges. "During the reading of the long document there was no sound In the hall save the hoarse voice of Secretary Keane, and on its completion Supervisor Sanderson arose. "Gallagher explained that Langdon would 'be given an opportunity next Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock to appear before the board and defend himself against the charges.' "He then recognized Sanderson, who offered a motion accepting the communication from the Mayor and directing that Langdon be directed to appear to answer. "Supervisor Wilson seconded the motion. "Upon the call for the 'ayes,' although the Supervisors usually let silence Indicate their consent, there was a chorus of approval, and upon the call for the 'noes' there was dead silence.