Collection Summary
Information for Researchers
Administrative Information
Historical Information
Scope and Content of Collection
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Collection of San Francisco graft prosecution records
Date (inclusive): 1906-1911
Collection Number: BANC MSS C-B 447
Extent:
Number of containers: 93 volumes in 8 cartons, and 11 scrapbooks
Linear feet: 12.2
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
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.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English
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.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
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.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Related Collections
Photographs related to the San Francisco graft trial, (BANC PIC 1905.02613-02623)
Francis J. Heney papers (BANC MSS C-B 389)
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Glass, Louis
Schmitz, Eugene E
Ruef, Abraham, 1864-1936
Moore, A. A. (Albert Alfonzo), b. 1842
Moore, Stanley, b. 1880
Drew, Frank C., 1861-1925
Burns, William J., 1861-1932
Calhoun, Patrick, b. 1856
Coffey, Michael W
Ford, Tirey L. (Tirey Lafayette), 1857-1928
Heney, Francis J. (Francis Joseph), 1859-1937
Johnson, Hiram, 1866-1945
United Railroads of San Francisco
Political corruption--California--San Francisco
Public utilities--California--San Francisco
San Francisco (Calif.)--Politics and government
San Francisco (Calif.)--History
Scrapbooks
Administrative Information
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.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the container level.
Processing Information
Processed by Bancroft Library staff.
Historical Information
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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.