The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-30
The Former Chiefs Defense SINNERS
Down to a Simple Question
Of Veracity.
Attempts to Impeach Testimony Of
Detective Wirtensohn Prove
of Small Value. --
The Defense Is Nearly All In and
the Jury Will Probably Re-
tire Tomorrow. 4

The AmeS case IS ABOUT DIT dill ellu. III
less the unexpected happens 1t should go
to the jury by tomorrow night: This noon
Victor J. WEIGH, Colonel, Ames attorney,
said that the evidence Of the defense was
practically all in and that he would close
the case this afternoon.
The coloners situation, this morning,
was not without it's pitiable side Deserted
by his brother, who is still at West Baden,
and by his official associates, only one OF
whom took the stand in his behalf, his
condition was indeed critical.
His one hope for escape rests upon the
possibility that the jury may believe him
IN preference to the states witnesses, all
of whom he has contradicted with the
single exception Of City Clerk Lydiard,
who was called simply to prove the fact
of his appointment as superintendent OF
police.
The attempt made by the defense to i'm
peach Otto Wirtensohn's testimony re-
suited in little of value. except for the
statements Of Colonel Ames himself. Wir-
tensohn refused to swear that he had not
told Mrs. Ames and the attorneys for the
defense that he never received any order
from Colonel Ames personally to chaperOne
Cohen on his now celebrated tour through
the red light district This morning the
colonels wife one of his attorneys and
the colonel himself all testified that he
had made such a statement. Wirtensnhn
denied that he had ever told Ernest Vice.
lock that the order did not come from
Ames, and Whe clock, when called, would
not testify that he had.
Under cath Wirtensohn said that Ames
personally gave him the order. The colo
mel. also under oath. denied this in toto,
as he has denied everything that might
tend to incriminate him.
Mr.. Wheelock also testified that he had
been present at conversation between
The former chief and Christopher c. Nor
which
discussed, and that the colonel had not
made the remark attributed to him by
Norbeck. However, the defense was I'M
able to show that the conversations re-
ferred to were Identical, except by Colo
mel Ames himself, who testified that he
had had only one talk on the subject in
Norbeclt's presence. Here again the mat
ter SINNERS down to a question Of verac-
tty between the discredited chief one
hand and a states witness on the other.
Good Character Witnesses. -. 49,.
The defense reached the good charac-
ter stage this morning, and called six.
witnesses, five of whom testified that
Colonel Ames' reputation had always been.
good up to the beginning of the police in-y
vestigaticn; while one, DR.. H. H. Kimball.
thought 1t was still good. = III,
However, the Ames defense rests upon
Ames' testimony and nothing more. The
state might easily admit the absolute ac-
curacy of statements made by all the
other witnesses without weakening it's
case. Opposed to the former chief is
rayed the testimony of Otto Wirtensohn,a
man who was once his friend and who
probably bears him no i'll will at the
present time; the testimony of Christie
pher c. Norbeck, former detective, him
self awaiting sentence for completely in
The misdeeds Of the department; and the
stories Of some score of women from the
red light district, all Of whom are posi-
tive In their statements, and one of
whom declares that Ames told her per-
sonally that it was all right to pay Cohen
money
The testimony of Mrs Ames would have
been unimportant, even from a disinter-
ested party, but when it is remembered
that she is the defendants wife, it's i'm
portance is reduced to a minimum. More
over, Mrs. Ames made a bad mistake
when she admitted that she had asked
Otto Wirtensohn, in private. whether or
not her husband had given him the fate
full order She should not have allowed
1t to become known that she had ever
doubted his innocence.
Addie Mills took the stand at the open
Ing Of the Ames case this morning. Mr..
Boardman asked if she had received
visit from anyone claiming to represent
the police except Cohen, after the chiefs
visit. The witness replied she had not.
Did Superintendent Ames ever let you
know what to do?" asked Mr.. Boardman.
mo, SIR
To lmpeach Wirtensohn.
Colonel Ames then resumed his testi-
mnny. He related several conversations
he had had with Otto Wirtensohn. the in
tention evidently being to impeach Wir
asked the detective how his name hap a
pened to appear on the indictment and
that Wirtensohn had admitted telling the
grand jury that he had accompanied Co.
hen on his first collection tour.
Il asked him why he went,'' said the
witness, land he replied that he had re-
ceiVed orders to go from headquarters
But you didn't get that order from me-
I said; and Wirtensohn answered, NO. sir;
did not"
Colonel, did you, as superintendent of
police have power to hire or discharge
men under you?" asked Mr., WEIGH,
mo sir, did not"
with whom did that power rest?" --....
"Solely with the mayor
Mr.. WEIGH then sought to show that
Irwin A. Gardner had never been under
Ames' supervision, but questions along
that line were ruled out
Was Reddy Cohen connected with
the police force?" quered Mr.. WEIGH. ~
MOT to my Knowledge
He wasn't a member Of the force?"
mo. SIR
did you know him."
Il had a slight personal acquaintance
with him. That is ALL
He Had to Go Personally.
This finished tho direct examination,
and Mr.. Boardman took the witness. He
began with the testimony of City Clerk
Lydlard, which Colonel Ames admitted
was correct. Next he passed to the testi-
mony Of Addie Mills. The defendant ad-
mitted his visit to her place, but denied
that he had told her to wait until she
heard from him. He admitted that he
might have told her to call at the city
hall, but said, if he had, 1t was because
she had inquired what the order to stop
paying money meant.
Il had to make thirty or thirty-fiye
places said he "and didn't have time
to explain. So, when they wanted to talk,
just told them to call at the office later"
You didn't have to go to all those
places in one night, did you?"
That's my business, Mr.. Boardman. I
thought So
why didn't you send one of your sub