The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-06-07
HE'S IN JAIL NOW
From "a Society Box to the Gala
ANDREW ANDERsoN's HARD LUCK
He Forgot So Much in Briggs Trial
That Judge sMcGee Called
1t Perjury.

An almost instantaneous change from
the witness box to a cell in the county
Jail was the experience of Andrew Ander-
son this morning.
Anderson is bartender for Andrew Oh
son, into whose saloon it is alleged F. A
Briggs had forced a nickel-in- the slot
machine. The case was on trial before
Judge MCGEE and Anderson was the first
witness of the day, succeeding Olson him
self, who had much annoyed the judge and
the prosecuting attorney by his failure to
remember certain events
Following in the footsteps of his en-
ployer, Anderson would continually reply
10 all questions, Il don't remember" and
this formula was kept up throughout the
examination at the hands of County At
torney Al j. Smith In despair Mr. Smith
finally turned the witness over to Briggs
attorneys for cross-eXamination. They
had no use for him and Anderson was
about to step down and out, when the
judge took a hand.
The witness will remain where he is
for moment, and the jury will leave the
room, said the judge, with a frown.
The jury filed slowly out. The witness
remained sitting in the box, nervously
| twisting his hands. The Judge hauled
over his law books and then, seizing a pen
and paper, began writing rapidly, his ex-
preston all the time growing more
menacing
There was perfect silence in the court
room until he had finished his task and
| began reading in a clear and firm voice
| the following order:
The Order.
One Andrew Anderson, having been on this
day examined as a witness in this court on
behalf of the state in the case of the State
of Minnesota VS.. Fred A. Briggs, charged by
| ind Hiaty1 rKrit
gambling device, towit, ''ntckel-in- -the-slot-
machine" and it appearing probable to the
court and the court being satisfied that said
Andrew Anderson, in giving his testimony in
said case did commit the crime of perjury,
1t is ordered that said Andrew Anderson be
committed to the county Jail of Hennepin
county to await the action of the grand jury
on the charge OF perjury. Bail is hereby fixed
at $500
The face of the witness blanched as the
relentless voice continued to read, and
there was CONSERVATION pictured upon the
faces of the defendant and his attorneys
One of the latter, Judge w. A. Kerr,
stepped forward, but before he could say
a word the judge called a deputy and or
dered him to take the prisoner to jai1
adding fiercely:
I'VE will find out here and now whether
! these people think this is comic opera
| or a court of law"
Then Mr.. Kerr filed a formal objection
to the action. He objected to the Ian
guage used by the court and his words
were taken down by the stenographer.
Witnesses Not Impressed.
The trial then proceeded, but the sum-
mary action of the judge seemed not to
have affected the witnesses who followed.
All had left their memories at home.
ii
volunteer a rambling explanation of why
he could not remember or would simply
say that he could not reply with GER
tainty.
Anderson, in his testimony, had said
that he had no knowledge of the exact
time when the machine was placed in the
saloon. He had come in one morning and
found it there. He had not thought it
of enough Importance to ask any ques-
tions about
Gus Hawkson, another employe. was
then called, but he also had a bad mem
ory. The state then put on Henry Erick-
son, who is alleged to have placed the
machines for Briggs, but Erickson's mem
ory was even worse than that of the men
who had preceded him.
At the present rate of progress and with
the same attitude continued on the part
of the witnesses, it is evident that the
state will again be unable to substantiate
its case.
al J. Smith said that he had had talks
with all the witnesses thus far called by
| him in behalf of the state, and that in
their conversations with him they told
definite facts which they now saw thew
cannot remember. Mr. Smith ayows.
however, that he will continue the fight
until he makes some of them tell the
whole truth