OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13342, 6 February 1909, Page 2

OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.

(nvcm ore special cobbesfokdext-) SAN FRANCISCO, December 26. ANOTHER TRAGEDY. Scarring events havo crowded themsolves into a brief period of time l San Francisco's famous prosecution of grafters. After Francis J. Hency iras shot by a man vrho subsequently, committed suicide, the people - wc-rc startled on the evening of November SOt.h to lea-rn -that Chief of Police William J. Biggy had been lost from the polio© launch Patrol while returning from a ride to a marine suburb. One of the- Police Commissioners lives in the euburb referred to—SansaJito—dnd he was very friendly to th© Chief of Police. No on© will ever know what happened on tine return trip of the Patrol. There were only two men on board when tie launch left Sansalito. As soon as the man operating the ongine was ready to "tio up" on the San Franoisco side, he called to Chief Biggy for assistance. Hearing no response, a hurried search reveaJed an empty cabin, and the police department was notified. Small boa-ts laden with men and grappling hooks endeavoured to locate the body. There were wild rumours thai the" chief had disappeared. Press despatches had him first in one place and then in another. On tie fif teeuth of December the sea gave up its dead. The verdiot of the jury was accidental death. Chief Biggy was an honourable man, but vain and incompetent. Hβ was appointed to office by tjio influence of those m lead or tiho graft prosecution, but he soon hampered I'roceedings in order to slio'v.his authority. Tlho result was that he was the subject of ncw&paper criticisms of a severe nature. His sensitive nature could not withstand the attack, and the chief started to drink (heavily. It is known that ho had been drinking on the Sansalibo trip. Whether he was accidentally drowned or, in a moment of despair, had decided to end his life, is a matter of public conjecture. "GRAFT" PROSECUTIONS. San Francisco gave a sigh of relief on December 10th, when a jury brought in a verdict of guilty against the ex-Boss. It was rather unexpected. The jury was out a lon2 time. The citizens anticipated a disagreement, for at previous trials it was generally surmised that failure to convict was tho result of two or three men "planted" to prevent an unanimous decision. In this successful trial Deteetivo W. J. Burns intercepted 2.500 dollars on its way to bribo a juror. Tho money is now in a safe deposit vault. While there wore three or four men who attempted to assist Huef on tho jury, they were unablo to stand against the majority, especially as the evidence was clear, the criminal had practically confessed his crime, and every man, woman, and child in California knows that Abe Ruef despoiled the city of his birth in the days when men with principle and citizenship were responding to the call of duty. Nearly 1500 men were examined before a jury of twelve was secured to try Ruef. Months were consumed in selecting the jury and trying the case. Delays of all sorts were practised by the attorneys for the defence. Tho result has been on awakening of public indignation at tho methods pursued, and there is a quiet but insistent demand for speedy trials, the abolition of technicalities, and tho installation of justice as known to ether parts of tho English-speaking world. The one ray of light in the travesty on justice is tho conviction. It is impossible for the outsider to depict the bitterness, tiie factionalism, over these graft cases. Nevertheless, tho right has prevailed in this instance. The Press of the land is congratulating San Francisco on her redemption from the power of boodle and ill-gotten gold. *;§ LIFE SENTENCE FOR PETER CLAUDIANES. On December 23rd there was completed in (for California) marvellously short, time the trial of Peter Claudianes. Convicted of attempting to kill James L. Gallagher, chiof of the boodling Board of Supervisors, and now pivotal witness for tne prosecution, by blowing his residence up with dynamite, Claudianes was found guilty by a jury after six minutes' deliberation. Ho asked tho judge to sentence Slim immediately. Tho result was a life penalty. There was no doubt of the man's guilt. Ho confessed. The only regrettable feature of the case was the inability to ascertain who actually hired the would-be murderer to commit his dastardly crime. On this point Claudiftnes maintained an impregnable-silence. The people of California know that some "higher up," or someone interested in tho "higher ups," was behind the dynamite. DEATH OF OLAUS SPRECKELS. On Deeemlber 26th, there died in San Francisco a man whose name is linked with the progress of tho Pacific Coast. Clous Sprockets lived to Bo eighty years of age. A millionaire many times, with sugar and' shipping interests that made his name known the world over, and: with a number of sons who have inherited both wealth and: the power to add thereto, the doceased was not unmindful of publio obligations. Ho came to San Francisco a poor man,, overheard a. conversation describing the possibilities of an enlargement of the sugar industry, took a chance, and won. Money came easily to the okl German. He was a man of pronounced likes and dislikes. His disagreement with members of his family has furnished many a morsel of gossip to San Francisco. Claus Spreckels's son, Rudolph, is financing tho graft prosecution. Another son, John D., is best known to New Zealanders through his connection with the Oceanic Steam Ship Company. Clnus Spreckels had his detractors, but ho did 1 not possess the exclusive moneyrnadness of some of tho present-day millionaires. THE FIRST AFTER-FIRE CELEBRATION. * It isn't fashionable in San Francisco to allude to the big earthquake. (By the way, there have been three or four little shakes lately that have kept people talking.) Preference i» given to "the fire" in discussing the terrible days of 1906. This Christmas and 1 New Year's time has witnessed tho restoration of the down-town celebration. Tho principal streets are decorated. Electric ligits illumine at night—they are strung across th© thoroughfare. Tho city, at night, is a blaze of light, pretty in tho extreme, and; tho merchants have planned parades, have hired bonds, purchased, confetti, and otherwise prepared for a New Year* lire celebration in San Francisco that will rival those of other and famous years. And the event will bo memorable as the first since th© reconstruction of buildings, the restoration of confidence, and, mainly, einoe the—"big fire."