The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-25
JOE COHEN WILL
TELL THE TRUTH
The Alleged Go-Between Willing to
Testify for the State Against
". =. e. Fred Ames.
He Insists That His Actions Were
Innocent So Far as He Was
..s Concerned. 49,.
It Is Believed That His Evidence
Will Affect Ames Seriously
The Jury Completed.

Joseph Cohen, whose name has been so
frequently connected with the Arnes graft
and who is indicted Jointly with Colonel
Fred W. Ames now OIL trial upon
charge of extortion, expects to go on the
witness stand for the state and tell the
whole truth regardless Of consequences
either to himself or his eFstWhile asso-
ciates. tH
This decision is regarded as important,
as it has been popularity believed that II
Cohen told what he knew about the mat
ter, Colonel Ames would have cause for
grave apprehension. -.
Cohen does not consider that his testi-
mony will be in anyway a confession, as
he maintains that any connection he may
have had with the alleged graft was in
nocent He says he offered to tell MS
story before the grand jury. but that his
offer was refused for reasons unknown to
himself.
When seen this afternoon Cohen said:
Am going to turn states evidence7
Well, T don't know that you would eX-
actly call it that. I have an 1ntlmatlon
that am to be subpoenaed by the state,
and if I am, 1 will go on the stand and
tell the truth, the whole truth and no
thing but the truth. I have been willing
all along to tell my side of the story, but
every one seemed unwilling that l should
do So They have spurned my offers from
time to time and have gone ahead with
out allowing me to explain my connection
with the matter. IN =
II understand that both sides consider
nv testimony important. l can tell a lew
things. but you cannot call it a confession.
T have. committed no crime and 1 90 not
think it would be confession for me TO
tell what have done. Ihey seem 10
think I have committed a crime putF /
have not. T was not bribed, for held no
office and, it could not be considered. brib-
cry.
I'As to the matter of eXtortion Well, I
never extorted cent from any one and l
will be able to prove 1t When~l get IN
court. They say I threatened to swear
out a warrant against certain woman II
she would not pay me sl5. WE'LL that IS
false. ;
"What am going to testify? Well, you
will have to- wait to -see.--Remember that
I have not been subpoenaed yet and am
not sure that I will be. If am called.
what I testify will depend greatly upon
the questions I am asked There is one
thing I know about my testimony, and
that is that it will be the truth
/"Will YOU tell them about the excur-
sions through the red light district?' the
reporter inquired. - ~ .. e
'Yes,. I'll tell them everything. Why
should I attempt to hold up anything? |
have no object in view: When my cases
come up for hearing I will be promptly
acquitted, and there is no reason Why l
should refuse to tell the whole thing.
did nothing wrongs and l will tell them
what did,
When the news that Cohen had decided
| to tell all he knows Of the affair was re-
ceived by the friends of Colonel Ames,
CONSERVATION was visible on every face.
There were few, even of the most ardent
| followers of the ex-Superintendent Who
were willing to express belief that ne
would be acquitted.