Note 198 — Chapter XIV · The Source of the Bribe Money.

Crocker testified before the Grand Jury, however, that he had known Ruef for many years. “He (Ruef) and my brother-in-law, Prince Poniatowski,” said Crocker, “both being French, and both being pretty clever men, struck up quite a friendship together and through that means I used to see more or less of Ruef and that was one of those peculiar friendships that spring up with people who are not identified and not connected in any way whatever in any business enterprise, sprang up between Ruef and myself, and when he told me that in my office it didn’t surprise me a bit.”

Crocker had testified that Ruef had promised to do all he could to get him his franchise, and wouldn’t want a dollar from Crocker, or from the institution with which Crocker was connected.