The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-30
AMES' FLAT DENIAL
The Defendant contradlcts All the States
-. -. Vital TestImony. 49,

The Defendant contradlcts All the States
Vital Testimony.
Colonel Ames took the stand in his
own behalf yesterday afternoon and did
just what he had been expected to do.
He fatty contradicted neary all Of the
states witnesses. Admitting that he had
made the rounds of the red light district,
testified to by score of witnesses who
had preceded him., he denied that he had
ever told the women to wait until they
heard from him, or to call upon him at
headquarters. He denied that he had ever
told the Mcintosh woman that it was ''all
right" to pay Cohen money: that ne knew
Of Cohen's extortions; or that he had ever
ordered Detective Wirtensohn to accom-
pany Cohen on his rounds. He denied
point blank the conversation related on
the stand by former Detective Christopher
G.. Norbeck He denied personal ac-
quaintance with any of the women who
testified against him; denied that he had
ever mentioned Gardners name In con-
nection with the graft" and denied that
he had ever heard Gardner accused OF
such crime until his trial.
Regarding his famous tour Of the red
light district, Colonel Annes said 1t had
come to his ears that the women were
paying money to somebody. File protested
to the mayor that this must be stopped as
the responsibility might be laid at his own
door and the doctor finally instructed him
to visit the resorts and instruct the pro-
prietors to cease paying. The list OF ad-
dresses was drawn up for him by
Bracket, Wheelock and Norbeck. On his
visits the colonel said he had made the
same general statement to each woman
IT said had heard rumors that they
had been paying money for protection"
he testified, land wanted them to stop
it; that l didn't want them to pay any
money to any one for any purpose mat
| was the idea I wished to convey. Some
times they wanted to know what was go
ing to happen, as women will In such
cases. I think did say if they wanted to
learn more they could come to my office;
it was a matter Of indifference to me.
Many Of the women came during period
of three or four or five weeks.
Several women said they were left in
a peculiar position. They wanted to know
If there wasn't some way they could pay
and get protection. I told them that was
just what wanted to stamp out; that
was receiving a salary of $4,000 year as
chief of police, and T didn't propose to
allow anything of that kind going on UNI
der me- might have told them they
! must run orderly places.
Ibid any woman ever ask you If 1t was
all right to pay money to Cohen?'
mo. sir. No such occurrence ever took
place. 49,
could you go to those places again and
find them?' -..''-...
II couldn't do it to save my soul"
Colonel Arnes was the first witness
called by the defense. after that side of
the case had been opened4to the jury by
Mr. Welch. The opening was brief but
vigorous Stress was laid upon the state
ment that the jury could not convict
Colonel Ames of one crime because 1t
| thought him guilty, of another. The
| state, it was alleged, had failed to show
conclusively that. Addie Mills had ever
paid the chief cent for protection. {
1T is fact" said Mr.. WEIGH, that he
had heard that Gardner, who, had nothing
| important to do with the police depart
ment and for his own private graft, was
getting money from them. Ames did
| just what any honest chief Of police would
! do under the same conditions. These
women were all alarmed, and thought
they were going to be raided. He told
them he didn't know what was to be done,
but they must stop grating. They; could
! see him atahis Office at any time they
| wanted, and find out what they might be
! expected to do = 's= ~ y