The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-22
The Defense First Makes a Vigorous
Onslaught to Quash the
indictments.
An Affidavit Alleges That Norbeck
Was Promised Immunity if
He Would Talk.

Judicial Investigation into the actions |
Of the Minneapolis police department |
was begun this morning, when the case
OF the state against Christopher c.. Nor
beck, a plain clothes man, was called for
trial before Judge A. NJ. Harrison
When court opened w. w. Erwin and
Henry S. Mead, attorneys for Norbeck
and Gardner, appeared before Judge
Simpson and presented afFidavits of preju-
dice against the four republican judges Of
the district bench. The affidavits were
In omnibus form, and alleged prejudice
on the part of the judges named without
going into detail. Judge Simpson re-
fused to listen to arguments, and at once
sent both cases up stairs to Judge Har-
rison
Assistant County Attorney Al j. Smith
then formally moved the Norbeck case
for trial. and again Mr.. Erwin attempted
to present arguments in support OF the
afidavits, but Judge Harrison held that
the matter had already been disposed of
by Judge Simpson and refused to permit
any further discussion. Mr.. Erwin asked
that time be granted him in which to
prepare a separate affidavit, directed
against Judge Harrison individually, but
that request was refused also. An ex-
ception was taken to both rulings.
A formal motion to quash the indict-
naent was then made, and in support Of II
Mr.. Mead read a somewhat Volumlnous
and decidedly interesting AFFIDAVIT, signed
BY Norbeck, in which the police ohcer
makes the claim that the grand jury anu
the judges of the district court were,
working together and intended to sho" up
the administration of Mayor Ames.' The
aff1davt makes it very clear that the de-
Tense will make an effort to convince the
trial Jury that Norbeck was indicted be-
cause his testimony before the grand jury
was not satisfactory to that body; tnat
an attempt will also be made to show up
an alleged political conspiracy against the
Ames administration; and to show that
Indictments have been returned from po-
htical motives.
Affidavit Not Taken Seriously.
A large number of attorneys were IN
the courtroom when the affidavit was read
and as Norbeck's story progressed many
of them smiled sarcastically. The whole
affair Is viewed as a colossal bluff de-
signed to put Mayor Ames in the position
of a martyr and thus arouse for him
false sympathy. That it can serve any
other purpose, attorneys say, is lmpos-
sble. It is, as one of them put II,
political document, meant to ward OF
from the administration, so far as can be,
the storm of popular Indignation which is
tmpendng" From this point of view the
affidavit is a decidedly humorous docu-
ment It's reception this morning gave
every evidence that it is regarded as
huge Joke by men familiar with legal pro-
cedure as we'll as with the facts in the
present case.
The affidavit opens with the relation o..
a. conversation Norbeck claims to nave
had with Lincoln Crossman, a member OF
the so-called big mitt combine at the
courthouse about three weeks ago. Dur
ing that talk Norbeck says he was ad-
vised to go before the grand jury and
tell all he knew of Irregularities in the
police department. Crossman. he says,
told him that the grand jury already had
enough evidence to lead to the indictment
Of a number of police officials and the
mayor as we'll and that Norbeck could
only hope to escape trouble by telling
everything. .-.. -
The affidavit goes on to say Crossman
told the defendant that If the county at
torney didn't do his duty the grand jury
would hire a special attorney of their
own, as they were determined to show up
the administration, and wouldn't falter if
it cost half million dollars.
Edwards "svveat" Him.
early IQlS nCQLQ NOTDeCK says ne mad
talk with Charles Howard and Billy
Edwards, at the JAIL the affidavit, at this
point, reading as follows
had a conversation with Charles Howard
and Billy Edwards at the Jail, in which Ed
wards said had better go before the grand
jury and tell everything that l knew. Il
you do not tell everything you know, I hav.
fixed it so you will be indicted and they viii
send you to the pen with the rest O
them. I said to Edwards and Howard
what do you Of? What hav,
you fixed up?" Edwards says: You know
that we have given you money at differen
times" and kind of laughed And says
"Now, this is all nonsense. You cannot ge
me to swear to any lie to please the gran,
Jury or anybody else You and neither one o
you have ever given me money in your life
Now if you have given money to anybod
tell who you gave it to and don't try to pu
that on me- Edwards then says: wv
thought you would do what you could t
break down this administration, for you kno,
that you will be let QUE just soon as the
can let you out" He then said you nee
not be afraid that you will lose your jot
for when this comes out they will have S
much to attend to that they won't bottle
about your job and they won't try to dis
charge you He says: when the neg
mayor gets in you won't probably stand
show for being chief of police but you wi
all right to be chief of detectives Now,
ne says. this has all been talked over wit
the members of the grand jury and the judge
of the district court and they are going
be a great deal stronger than the mayor.
And Edwards further said that the gran
Jury and the county attorney would be calle
before the judges of the district court tt
morrow morning and get instruction, that
the county attorney did not do his dut.