San Francisco Graft Prosecution Collection of Records, 1906-1911

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Summary

Title:
Collection of San Francisco graft prosecution records
Dates:
1906-1911
Abstract:
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.
Extent:
Number of containers: 93 volumes in 8 cartons, and 11 scrapbooks Linear feet: 12.2
Language:
Collection materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records, BANC MSS C-B 447, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

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.

Acquisition information:
The Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records were given to The Bancroft Library by Stanley W. Moore, Sr. and Stanley W. Moore, Jr. in 1946. Volumes 2-4 were purchased from John Howell in 1928.
Processing information:

Processed by Bancroft Library staff.

Arrangement:

Arranged to the container level.

Accruals:

No additions are expected.

Physical location:
Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding Aid written by Bancroft Library staff; revised by Alison E. Bridger
Date Prepared:
© 2007
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid generated by Finding Aid author(s) via EAD XPress; markup validated by The Bancroft Library staff using OAC validation tools; Date of source: May 2007

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

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.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Collection of San Francisco Graft Prosecution Records, BANC MSS C-B 447, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Location of this collection:
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft Library
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
Contact:
510-642-6481
bancref-library@berkeley.edu
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