The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-02
Edwards Testifies That Detective Chris. Nor.
beck Was Directly Responsible for Open
ing Big Nit Joints in Minneapolis.
Startling Revelations Made Regard
ing Methods of Police to Work
"Graft" and Be Protected.

was at 242 Fourth avenue S. Norbeck
laughed about it and said he didn't see
how a man could be such fool as to put
his money up against such a game as
that =.
Victims Identified by Losses.
Asked when this was, Edwards said it
was on the evening of the day he had
seen 1.-The $102 man off, The gang paid
no attention to names but remembered
amounts and thus refer to victim who
was robbed of $1O2 as 1.-The $1O2 man"
This ha bit has been mentioned in the tes
timony before. Apparently 1t is usual
in such dealings. ..r. III (.
Telling of another case in which a VIC
tim had been robbed of S2z5 check by
means of the "big mitt," Edwards said
Norbeck had told him afterwards that
there might be trouble about it. At an
other time Norbeck said the St. Paul
police wanted the check. II said L didn't
see where the St. Paul police had any
right to cut in up here in Minneapolis.
Link Crossman was with me. We met
Norbeck in front of the Mint saloon. He
said he wouldn't explain, but took me
off to one side and said the chief was
very anxious to get that check. He said
he might get something out of 1t for him
self and would split it with me. I finally
gave him the check, but never got
cent Of the money. Afterwards Gardner
told me the chief never got the check
and wanted to trace it up. He said that
he thought Norbeck had cashed the check
himself. 1t was on st. Paul bank and
1 told him to go over there and see
about it.
A Trap for Reporters.
Edwards said he had been, introduced
to Fred Bonge, a reporter on the Mime
apolis Tribune by Ed Conner, a Times re-
port er. The Introduction was made in the
Joint at 80 Washington avenue S. They
came in about 10 clock in the morning.
They had a talk and then the newspaper
men went outside and remained in the
hall and Whereabouts practically all day.
About 3 o'clock Christopher Norbeck
came in. He was seen to enter by both
Bonge and Conner. Norbeck told the wit
ness that Gardner had said to move the
joint. Witness had asked referring to
Bonge and Conner, s'What's the matter
with them fellows? Are they crazy?"
and Norbeck replied: "We'll fix them all
| right. Irv says to move the joint" That
afternoon the joint was moved to 242
Fourth avenue S. ,-~t
Continuing, the witness said he had
| afterwards seen Bonge and Conner in
| front of the Fourth avenue joint and had
| talked with them at Tooze's saloon. On
! that same day Norbeck brought word that
Gardner wanted to see him and that night
| tuNdIuS Welt uOWn 10 Idfuuer house.
| The next night he went down again. The
| first night Gardner told the witness
We'll fix Bonge and Conner so they won't
! bother you any more. I'm working up
something to fix them now" Gardner said
he didn't believe they represented the
| papers, but witness replied that he had
telephoned the offices and that the men
were employed on the papers as they had
| claimed.
Norbeck had told the witness that Card
ner was fixing up a trap for the newspaper
men and that when he got through there
wouldn't be enough Of them left to wad
a shotgun.
II went down to Gardeners house the
| next night continued the witness. "He
met me at the door and said: Come in
old man, come in Percy De Laittre
Christ Norbeck and Detective Bracket
were there. We had drink of beer anC
they told me they were fixing up to HAND
Bonge something. Gardner was to give
him $25 and then he was to be arrested
De Laittre and I hid, behind the piano
The others hid elsewhere. Bonge came ir
but they had photograph going and
couldn't hear what was said. After Bonge
left. the officers went after him to arres
him. hTey were all too excited to talk
They were laughing about Bonge's being
caught"
"Big Mitt'' Ethics.
Later Edwards said he didn't want t.
make any trouble for Bonge and asked tn
police to leave him. out of it, II though
he had just as good a right to get none
from, Ic as yto had from tho Suckar9 - aY