SAN FRANCISCO BOODLERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 24 May 1911, Page 6

SAN FRANCISCO BOODLERS.

• RUEF IN PRISON. ] BREAKDOWN OF THE LAW. •San Francisco, April 5. Abraham Ruef. professional bribe taker, who amassed a fortune by corrupting public officials of California, was taken this month to the State prison at San Quentin to begin his 14-year term of incarceration. It is just four years and four months since Ruef was indicted, and the long technical fight by which lie lias managed to avert punishment until this date is admittedly a harsh reflection oil the criminal judicial system of this country. As a direct outcome of the failure of the courts to inflict, prompt punishment oil Ruef and the many other boodlers involved in the gigantic schemes of bribery, radical changes in the law are being made by the Californian legislature at its current session. One of the new laws goes to the extent of making a 10 to 2 verdict sufficient to convict a , defendant except in cases where the death penalty is involved, in which case the verdict must lie unanimous. The Bill has passed both Houses (if the Legislature, and if it receives the signature of the Governor must go to the people for ratification, being in the form of a constitutiopal amendment. Like all well-advertised criminals, Ruef is the recipient of much sloppy sympathy from loosely-balanced persons. His last days in the county gaol prior to his removal to the State prison were made remarkable by visits from hundreds of, his acquaintances, carrying (lowers and 1 other articles, nn<! bv the reception by * the prisoner »f thousands of letters. Some of his aforetime friends, whom he had aided when lx-wns absolute dictator of the affairs of w ".i Francisco, even wrote to him offering to serve in prison in his stead if it could be arranged. Ruef. who is a man of excessive vanity, showed these letters to his friends with unconcealed delight.

'By an odd mischance it was owing to a purely technical decision of the Supreme Court that Ruef, in whose favor all technicalities have hitherto inured, was sent to prison this month—about a year sooner than lie expected to go. The district Court of Appeal some months ago affirmed Ruef's conviction. He applied to the Supreme Court for a rehearing of the appeal. Four of the Supremo Court judges—a majority—signed an order granting the rehearing. But one of the four, after signing the order, and before the others had signed it. left the State. On that ground the Court, afterwards decided that its own order was defective, and vacated it.. The time within which a rehearing might be allowed had by this time elapsed; therefore the decision of the district Court of Appeal became final, and the Supreme Court did not disturb it, notwithstanding that four of its members had decided that Ruef was entitled to a rehearing. Of course, no one feels very sorry that this misehanceshquld have befallen Ruef, as he is notoriously guilty, having, in fact, pleaded guilty to a charge of extortion, although this same Supreme Court set him free from that charge, finding the indictment invalid.

Ruef has been put to work in the San Quentin prison in (.he jute mill. With good behaviour he will be able to reduce his 14-year sentence to 8 years and 10 months. Of all the city officials and corporation officials who four years ago were involved in the proofs of wholesale corruption in this eity, Ruef is the only one to enter the walls of a State prison. W itli the exception of one supervisor, who was convicted of accepting a bribe, and whose ease is awaiting decision by the Appeal Court, all the others are free. E. E. fxlimitz, the fiddler who became mayor, and whose alliance with Ruef made the looting of the city possible, walks the streets unhampered. He is said to lie increasing his riches by lucky mining speculations in Mexico. Inasmuch as all his dealings were with Ruef, there is no possibility of convicting Sehniitz unless the "boss" turns State's evidence against him.

Ruef's ill-gotten gains during the time he was czar of the city government are variously computed at from £200,000 to £(100,000. lie is said to have expended more than CIOO.OdO in his long fight against the law. There are those who say that a mini as wealthy as he will find a way of getting out of prison before the expiration of his term.