The Saint Paul globe., 1902-07-05
MAKES GENERAL DENIAL OF
STATES CHARGE, BUT AP- y
PEARS WORRIED
HIS MANNER COMEDIES
DEFEAT IN ADVANCE.
Defense viii Attempt to Prove AIibf
And to Shift Responsibility Upon
Mayor Ames-State's At
torneys Confident.

The state has finished it's casA
against Chief of Police Ames. Of Min
neapolis, charged with bribery, and the
defense is having it's innings. Very
suddenly and Unexpectedly Attorney
Smith announced that the state rest
ed shortly before noon yesterday. This
unexpected action took the defense so
by surprise that Attorney Welch I
pleaded with Judge Simpson to adj
Journ the case until Monday. T.4s re-
quest was refused and Mr.. Welch
opened the case of the defense to the
jury and put Chief of Police Ames. the
defendant, on the stand in his own be-
half. The end of the most sensational
OF the municipal corruption cases is
therefore in sight.
While the sudden closing of the
states case was unexpected it is
recognized as a clever move. The
prosecution realized that its sharp. d.
rect attack had been convincing, and
that the case as whole was stronger
and more complete and more impress
s1Ve as 1T stands than it would be If
a great amount of less material tes-
tlmony We're introduced, and decided
therefore, to rest on the performance
OF Norbeck, Crossman and .Meix.
The case against the chief looks very
formidable, and it is the general inn
preston that the defense has no
chance to explain away the mass Of
testimony presented, or to eradicate
the impression which the sensational
stories or the past two days have left
upon the jury. The defense gives evil
dence of distress, and the defendant.
NUh he Hn
own behalf, appeared detected and
without confidence. His testimony was
In striking contrast to the plain, di-
rect stories told by the states wit
nesses. He stammered, hesitated, ap-
peared embarrassed, was unable to re-
member anything very closely and
gave his answers in a hearted
sort of way.
Try to Prove AIibi. II
From the opening address of Attor-
ney Welch, and the testimony given by
the chief, the defense seems to be bas-
ing its hope upon slender grounds.
In general it will attempt to prove
an alibi, although in the face of the
great mass of testimony involving the
chief it would be impossible for a.
single alibi to sweep away the damag-
Ing influence of that testimony The
defense will attempt also to prove that
Mayor Ames, and not the chief, was the
mead OF the police department, and that
the chief had absolutely no authority
over any of the officers. This attempt
to shift the burden from the chief to
his brother was made evident in the
first questions put to the defendant.
He declared that he was a figurehead
and simply obeyed the mayors orders.
The defense will consist mostly Of a
nf hn cSfn fase~
The credibility of Norbeck and Cross
man will be attacked, the defense
banking especially on discrediting
Norbeck on his own confession of hav-
ing perjured himself when he was on
the stand in his own trial.
1t is the general impression among
those who have followed the case care IN
fully that the states witnesses made a .
deep impression upon the jury. The
states attorneys are more than conf
dent of securing conviction. One Of
them said: If it took a jury three
hours to convict King on the testimony
in that case, 1T should take jury less
than ten minutes to convict Ames on
the testimony in this case"
Ames Appears Worried.
Chief Ames was the first witness
called for the defense. He took the
stand and his appearance indicated
much concern. His face was pale and
wore more serious aspect than he's
been noted during the progress of the .
trial. His voice, never strong at the
best, appeared a trifle weaker than
usual as he answered the questions put
to him by his attorney. Neither were
his answers free and deliberate, but
were usually given with more or less
hesitation.
His memory was visibly affected
when called upon to give certain in
formation that could in no wise be in
eliminating, and when 1t came to ques-
tions of an discriminating nature his
ignorance of facts was something
stupendous.
He had worked as land examiner for
the St P, M. x M. Ry., was assistant
treasurer of the Exposition company,
later was cashier in a bank in the city,
and then was assistant cashier in the
postoffice, was colonel of the Thir-
and then was appointed chief of police
of the city.
AS superintendent of police Of the
city he said that he was merely a fig
urehead, as the mayor was virtually
chief of police. He was not allowed
to define the policy of the department.
Denies Crossman's Story.
He was then asked with reference to
the Crossman matter of receiving the
bribe, which he denied with consider
able vehemence, and said the first time
he ever met Crossman to know him
was during the Gardner trial, when he
testified against Gardner. He denied
ever having been introduced to Cross
man by Norbeck or anybody else. He
said that he never got list of names
Of big mltt" men from Norbeck or
anybody else. He denied ever having
any understanding with "big mitt''
would permit them to oper-
ute in the city for consideration,
neither did he know Of any big mitt''
men who were operating in the city