NCJ Number
66714
Date Published
1915
Length
504 pages
Annotation
EVENTS SURROUNDING THE PROSECUTION FOR BRIBERY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN SAN FRANCISCO DURING THE EARLY 1900'S ARE ANALYZED.
Abstract
ATTEMPTS TO PROSECUTE OFFICIALS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO RUEF-SCHMITZ REGIME SHOWED THAT EVEN WITH A DISTRICT ATTORNEY INTENT ON DOING HIS DUTY, FUNDS AMPLE FOR THOROUGH PROSECUTION, AND TRIAL JUDGES OF INTEGRITY AND ABILITY, AN UNSCRUPULOUS, WEALTHY, AND POWERFUL POLITICAL MACHINE COULD MANIPULATE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR ITS OWN ENDS. THROUGH HIGHLY TECHNICAL LEGAL MACHINATIONS BY DEFENSE LAWYERS, JURY FIXING, WITNESS INTIMIDATION, MANIPULATION OF STATE SUPREME COURT JUDGES, AND A HOST OF OTHER TACTICS, CASES AGAINST ALL BUT ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS WERE DISMISSED. ABRAHAM RUEF, THE MAYOR OF SAN FRANCISCO AT THE TIME OF THE PROSECUTIONS, WAS THE ONLY DEFENDANT SENT TO PRISON, SINCE A STRATEGIC ALLY ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT WAS ABSENT AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. THE EVILS REVEALED BY THE TRIALS AWAKENED THE STATE AS A WHOLE TO THE DANGERS POSED BY A 'SYSTEM' THAT COULD MANIPULATE THE PROCEDURES OF JUSTICE AND LAW. FOLLOWING THE GRAFT TRIALS IN SAN FRANCISCO, THE STATE UNDERTOOK A SERIES OF REFORM STEPS THAT WERE TO BE MODELS FOR OTHER STATES. EXTENSIVE FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. CORRESPONDENCE, JUDICIAL RULINGS, AND RELATED MATERIAL ARE APPENDED. (RCB)