The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-16
MAYOR PRATT ON THE STAND.
SPEAKS WELL OF DURHAM, But
ADMITS HE HAD HEARD OF A
COMBINE.
DURNAM,S FRIENDS LINED UP.
One and All They Tell of His Repu-
tatiOn for Honesty and In
teErity.

all In yesterday at noon, and ADJOURN
ment was taken until Monday when
arguments will begin and the decision
be left to the jury Arguments are ex.
pected to occupy the greater part OF
the day. so the case may not go to the
| jury until late in the afternoon. The
| evidence yesterday was not OF great
importance to the defense. A large
number of witnesses testified to the
splendid reputation held by the defend
ant in the community in which he lived.
Among these were city officials and po-
litical friends of the accused, as well
as personal friends. eu
The state scored good point, how
ever, in showing that while the alder
men who were members of the reser-
Voir committee swore positively that
there had been no meeting Of that COM
mittee the morning of May 2, 1895, the
city clerk had sent out his postal card
notices Of the meeting for 10 o'clock
that morning.
Some of the aldermen had positively
denied that there was d recess or an
adjournment of that meeting in the
afternoon, and Judge Simpson positive
ly swore that the committee had taken
a recess from some time after o'clock
until 4 o'clock, for no special purpose.
At the opening of the trial yesterday
morning A. Fredericks was put on the
stand. He said he had known Dur
nam ten years and knew he had a good
character Cross-eXamined, he admit
ted he was good friend of Durham
and had done considerable business
with him.
H. c. Haynes was sworn and said he
had known the defendant for fourteen
years, and gave him good reputation
for honesty and integrity.
At this point there was long wait
while the defense went in search of
more witnesses to prove good charac-
ter for the accused alderman.
Mayor Pratt was called by the de-
Tense as a resident of the Third ward,
and said he had lived there thirty
years. He knew Durham for about
twenty years and knew his reputation
for honesty and integrity, and it was
good.
you say his reputation among the
people is good?" asked Mr.. Peterson.
''Have you heard it talked Of up
there?"
mo, SIR
Haven't you heard it discussed as
to his connections with a combine?"
This was objected to, and Mr.. Peter
son said that if Pratt belonged to a
combine he was entitled to know it.
He meant Durham, but the crowd
laughed just the same.
'.Mr. Pratt, have you heard talk Of a
corrupt combine in the city council?'
81 shall say, for the, last year, I
have"
you have heard Durham classed as
member of the comine?"
81 think I have heard that every
member of the council was in it,
Have you heard that Fred Snyder
was in it,"
Yes, SIR
Judge Harvey?"
Eyes, sir, I have"
But you heard Durham spoken of
more than the others?"
well, it would impress me more
when a man, say like the president OF
the university was accused, than a
man like Durham, it would surprise
me more. What I am talking about is
newspaper gossip and on the street"
wallace K. Nye, city comptroller,
said he had lived in the Third ward for
sixteen years, knew Durham for twelve
y
was good
Frank Parcher said he had been in
Minneapolis twenty-four years, and
Durham had a splendid reputation.
Cross examined he said he had heard
all members of the council accused, but
never heard Durham singled out. He
had heard of corrupt combine, but
had not heard that Durham belonged
to it.
Loren Fletcher, sworn, said he had
lived in Minneapolis for forty years,
and at present was in congress. lie
had known Durham thirty years ago,
when he was boy. "a nice boy, too"
he said. His character was good. He
had not talked much about Durham
or heard him talked of.
Mr.. Holton presented a diagram Of
the floor plan of the White Elephant
saloon, and described it to the jury,
showing the room, 21.6x23 feet, in the
rear with four tables in it. The rear
entrance was by door near the Wash
ington corner. There was also a small
room with low partition.
Building Inspector Gilman was called
to prove that the saloon fixtures were in
the same position in 1895.
Mr.. Durham was recalled to speak
of the converse ton with Halvorson at
the corner Of Fourth street and Nicol-
let avenue.
st was standing near the area" he
said, when Halvorson came around
the corner and he said he was very
sorry to hear of my breaking my arm.
I said supposed he, Would put it onto
me hard when the trial Is on, and he
asked me how he could do that when
1 never offered to take a cent and he
never offered to give me any,"
THE DEFENSE RESTS.
1--WE rest" said Mr. Harrison.
City Engineer Capellen was sworn in
rebuttal He was member of the
reservoir committee and remembered
the meeting in May.
"That committee met in the fore
noon," he said.
'How do you know"
1.-THE bids for the castings and valves
were considered in the forenoon and
the reservoir in the afternoon"
WAS all the committee there?"
There was quorum"
did you see Durham there?" asked
Mr.. Harrison.
ct don't recollect"
Henry M. Mott, a clerk in the city
clerks office, identified a book Of
records, called the committee book. The
witness turned to the entry of Nav !?