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Finding Aid to the Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records, 1906-1911
BANC MSS C-B 447  
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Collection Overview
 
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Description
The Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records contains copies of legal records and scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, including transcripts of the trials of Abe Ruef, Eugene E. Schmitz, Louis Glass, Michael W. Coffey, Patrick Calhoun, et al., and contempt proceedings against William J. Burns. Also includes materials relating to Francis J. Heney and Hiram W. Johnson. The records were assembled for the president of United Railroads, Patrick Calhoun, and his chief counsel, Tirey L. Ford, chiefly by their attorney Albert A. Moore with his son Stanley Moore. Copies of the Eugene Schmitz trial papers (volumes 2-4) were formally in the possession of F.C. Drew.
Background
The San Francisco graft prosecution came as the result of the activities (ca. 1902-1907) of Abraham Ruef a San Francisco attorney and notorious political boss. With the assistance of Mayor Eugene Schmitz, Ruef arranged for the bribery of the Board of Supervisors by public utility companies and other powerful business interests including United Railroad. The prosecutor in the case was Francis J. Heney, who was succeeded by Hiram W. Johnson, when Heney was shot in the courtroom. The case helped launch Johnson's political career. Detective William J. Burns assisted the prosecution. Only Ruef was convicted of bribery in 1908 and sentenced to a 14 year prison term.
Extent
Number of containers: 93 volumes in 8 cartons, and 11 scrapbooks Linear feet: 12.2
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94270-6000. Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner. See: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html.
Availability
Collection is open for research.