The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-14

ferent init joints nearly every day
He also met Norbeck frequently in vari-
Gus saloons and in sporting resorts.
Asked to describe Lincoln Crossman's 8
connection with the joints, Edwards said
he was the outside member. 1t was his
duty to watch over the steerers, to see
that victims who threatened to "beef" to
the police were turned over to sNorbeck
to be run out of town.
"Cold Deck" Was Used.
Edwards admitted that the men who
died out of it by the use of tricks, one OF
which was the introduction into the game
of what is known as .'cold deck"
do you remember particular instances
of men being swindled in your joints OF
which Christopher G. Norbeck had
knowledge?" asked Mr.. Smith.
'I do replied the witness. There
was one case on Sixth street S, the man
was Scandinavian. about 81 or 80 years
old. We got some money from him and a
check for $3.50 on the Second National
bank of St. Paul. We played stud poker
and rung in a cold deck. Grin Crossman
and Ben Holmberg were in the game. l
talked with Norbeck about the check and
told him the bank wouldn't honor it. l
said L thought we could get it cashed
through a third party, but Norbeck said
he was afraid it would make trouble.
Afterwards Lincoln Crossman and l met
Norbeck in the Mint saloon. He said the
chief was hot after that check, because
Jim Murnane over in st. Paul, was rails
ing hell Norbeck then offered to nego-
tiate the check and said he would split
I'D the money with me. Finally gave II
to him. Afterwards Gardner made
kick He said the chief had never got 1t
and that they thought Norbeck ha6
hogged all there was in it. Chris tole
me he had given the check to Murnane.'
The valise taken to Chief Ames' office
following the raid of he Sixth street joint
by Officers Long and Zalusky, was pro-
duced and identified. Edwards testified
that the valise had been left in the chiefs
Office and that Norbeck afterwards left it
for him at Carrie Emerson's place. The
valise contained poker chips and railroad
folders used by the s'big mitters" in their
business. Edwards testimony on these
points was corroberated in the Gardner
case, even Chief Ames admitting the cir
cumstance of the valise, although he dis:
claimed any knowledge of it's return.
Edwards testified that the joint hat
been moved from Sixth street to "a:
Fourth avenue S. There he had swindlet
q man out Of $105 in gold. The victim
had come from some town in Washington
and was on his way to Sweden NorbecI
had told the witness that the man was
''son of gun to handle, and had ad
vised Edwards to try to pacify him. Ed
wards then walked over to the milwaukee,
depot. where he found the victim will
Detective Percy DeLaittre. AfterWard!
the witness asked Norbeck if he though
the sucker would go away and Norbecl
said he thought so.
.. Norbeck and Mick Case.
Edwards then related the details of tn,
Roman MEX case, telling how MEX hat
been swindled out of draft for SITS, tn
details of which were given publicity il
the Gardner trial. Attorney A.
Loomis' part in the transaction was de
scribed and the witness said Norbeck ha,
been paid $25 for taking care of Mick
The firm had got 1878 out of the draft
compromise having been arranged on tina
basis. -.
IT talked to Norbeck about the draf
several times,' said the witness 'sHe ha
advised Mick not to agree to the com
promise suggested by Cap Loomis, an,
he explained to me that he didn't know
the captain was working in our interests
Norbeck gave me a letter he had re
ceived from MEX from Alpena, Mich, an
think gave that letter to Mr.. Loomis.
At this point Edwards told of the Bong
incident, already explained by several diff
ferent witnesses in the Gardner case. H
toldaof the call made at the Washington
avenue joint by Bonge and Edwin NJ
Conner, and of the trap set for Bong
at sGardner's house, when he was give
marked money. Both the witness and tn
defendant were present when the ira
was sprung.
Edwards peculiar ideas of right wer
again evidenced in the course of his testi
mony regarding Bonge. Said he:
Il told Chris not to make, any troubl