The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-05
MAYOR THE REAL CHIEF
Story Told by the Defendant OIL
Direct Examination.


Direct Examination.
Colonel Frederick w. Ames, superinten-
dent of, police, took the stand late yes
terday Afternoon. He was the first wit
ness called in his own behalf. Victor ].
Welch one of his attorneys, asked him
the usual preliminary questions, elicit
ing the information that the superinten-
dent had been born in Minneapolis, July
5, 1858, had graduated from the Minneapo-
lis high school, had been land examiner,
assistant treasurer of the Minneapolis ex-
position, receiving teller of the First Ma
tional bank and colonel of the Thirteenth
Minnesota regiment. He said he was mar
ried and had four children.
The defendant then described the man
ner in which the police department is
run, explaining that the mayor was really
chief Of police, and that he merely carried
out the mayors orders. The mayor both
appointed and discharged members of the
force.
when did you first meet Billy Ed
wards?" asked Mr.. Welch.
II don't remember ever to have seen
him until Officers Long and Zalusky
brought him into my Office" came the re-
ply.
Captain Norm" W. King once took the
swindler to headquarters to "show him
to the chief" but Mr.. Ames had forgot
ten all about that fact.
And Lincoln G. Crossman," continued
the attorney, when did you first see
him?'
ITO know who he was?-not until he
testified in the Gardner trial.
From this point on the superintendent
proceeded to deny the statements OF
Crossman, Norbeck, Prenevost, Connor
and other witnesses who had testified
against him.
To ho hoS fo11 o1 wi
man in the mayors Office. the big nit
ter having testified that it was there he
gave the chief $25. He denied that Nor
beck had ever introduced Crossman to
him. He denied also he had ever received
list of big mitt employees from anybody.
He denied all knowledge of any arrange
ment made between any member of the
police department, or any one in author
ity, and swindlers by which the latter
were to have police protection. In fact
he denied everything, in suave, sweeping
denials, and with an air of injured inno-
cence.
"Now, what about this time, when Long
and zalusky brought Edwards into your
office ?" asked Mr.. Welch.
Long and Zalusky brought in man
who, 1 afterwards learned, was Edwards,
and young man who claimed to have
been swindled out of $25 or $40. The Of
fcers also brought satchel in. I simply
glanced at the satchel. I don't know to-
day what was in it,
II asked the men, What kind of a game
are you running here?' He said they were
playing cards. I asked him for his name,
and he said it was Edwards, The victim
didn't want to complain, so 1 told Ed
wards I wouldn't permit anything like
that to go on, and / advised him to get
out Of town.
do you know what became of that
grip?"
second thought
did MEX tell you where he was swim
dled-give you the number?"
mo, sir. He said he had indorsed the
draft. I asked him il he didn't know
better than to play cards with strangers,
and he said he ought to. I then said to
him: Now, young man, you must keep
still about this if you want to get this
draft back. If the story gets out no at
tempt to cash the draft will be made in
this vicinity He wanted me to send a
man with him right off. knew that was
superhuous, as the swindlers would have
disappeared by that time. I knew, too,
that these drafts and checks for such
large amounts would be floated in gam
bling houses"
did you say to MEX that you had a
special man to do that work and that he
wasn't there?"
mo, SIR
WAS Brackets name mentioned?"
'No, SIR q. =. ....' -h
Superintendent Ames said that Prene-
vost came back with MEX at 1880 p. m.
"D1d you know Prenevost was a news
paper man."
"No, SIR" replied Superintendent Ames
with smile. II thought he was friend
of MEX"
II believe I did ask Sergeant Farnham
if Lieutenant Bracket had been in that
night, but it was not in connection with
the MEX case"