CRIME IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 22, 19 February 1909, Page 4

CRIME IN AMERICA.

" GRAFT " PROSECUTIONS. San Francisco gave a sigh of relief on December 10, when a jury brought iu a verdict of guilty against the ex-Boss Abe Rucf. It was rather unexpected. The jury were out a long time. The citizens anticipated a disagreement, for at previous mals it was generally surmised that failure to convict was the result of two or three men " planted '' to prevent a unanimous decision. la this successful trial Detective \\. .1. Burns intercepted 2,500d0l (£500) on its way to bribe a juror. The money is now in a safe deposit vault. While there were three or four men who attempted to asist Ruef on the jury, they were unable to stand against the majority, especially as the evidence was clear, the criminal had practically confessed his crime, and every man, woman, 1. in California knows that Ruef despoil the city of his .birth in the days wlici men with principle and citizenship were responding to the call of duty. Nearly 1,500 men were examined hefore a jury of twelve were secured to try .Ruef. Months were consumed in selecting the jury and trying (lie ease. Delays of all 'sorts were practised by the attorneys for the defence. The result ha*, been an awakening of public indignation at llie methods pursued, and there i'- a. fillet and insistent demand for speedy trials, the abolition of technicalities, and the installation of justice as known to other parts 01 the Englishspeaking world. The one ray of light in the travesty 011 justice is the conviction. It is impossible for the outsider to depict the bitterness, the fraelioiuilism over these graft cases. Nevertheless, the right has prevailed in this instance. The Press of the laiad are congratulating San Francisco on her redemption from the 'power of boodle and ill-gotten gold. CORRUPT COUNCILLORS TRAPPED.

A clever ruse, it is declared, led to the detection of the councillors whose alleged that corrupt operations in Pittsburg (U.S.A.) are the Hie topic of the hour. A contractor .bidding for the work of paving Fourth Avenue, was informed, it is stated, that the Finance Committee would refuse to ratify the contract unless £2OOO wore paid to their members. The mayor (Mr. Guthrie), learning of this, arranged, for a detective to appear as a partner of the contractor. The detective received a note, saying, "Christmas is coming, boys. We need money. Bring it." He replied: "All right.' Come to tho Fort Pitt Hotel, a.ml' I'll pay you." The leader of the corrupt councillors, it is stated, then appeared, and £2OOO in notes were 'handed to him. While he was vomiting them a flashlight was exploded, and he was photographed, a revolver being iheht to his head at the same time. Mr. Guthrie, the story proceeds, sent the photograph to Mr Roosevelt, who, after placing it in the archives exf the White House, encouraged tlie mayor to proceed ruthlessly with the cleansing of the city from corruption.

Six councillors, apart from those arrested, fled from the city. The prisoners 'were ararigncd next morning, and evidence was green to the effect that the German National Bank paid the members of the Finance Committee £4OOO for the privilege of receiving municipal deposits. The privilege was granted, though other banks ■were Teady to pay a higher percentage on the municipal moneys. LIFE SENTENCE FOIt CLAUDIANES. On December 23 there was completed in (for California) marvellously short time the trial of Peter Claudianes. Convicted' of attempting to kill .Tames L. Oallagher, chief of the boodling Board of Supervisors, and now pivotal witness for the prosecution,' by blowing tip his residence with dynamite, Claudianes was found guilty by a jury after six minutes' deliberation, lie asked the Judge to sentence him immediately. The result was a life sentence. There was no doubt of the main's guilt. He coiessed. The only regrettable feature of the case was the inability to ascertain who actually hired the would-he murderer to commit his dastardly crime. On this point Claudianes maintained an impregnable silence. .'The people of California- know that some '-higher up" or someone interested in the "higher tips" was behind the dynamite.