The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-03
SENSATION IS PROMISED
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SAYS
MAYOR is INVOLVED IN COR
RUPT TRANSACTIONS
DETECTIVE NoRBEcK
WILL BE STAR WITNESS
Is Expected to Explode an overwheIn1
ing Surprise by Telling All He
knows-crossman Opens the
States Artillery.

The climax of municipal corruption
sensation has undoubtedly been reach
ed in the trial of Superintendent of
Police Fred w. Ames, of MINNEAPOLIS.
which started off with a rush vester-
DAY. 1t is to be fight to the death
and both sides are determined. The
Gardner, Norbeck and King trials are
insignificant in comparison with the
trial of the head of the police depart-
ment, which is to involve the entire
municipal administration, according to
the opening remarks of Prosecutor
Smith to the jury. Mr.. Smiths ad-
dress was brief but concise and terri
bly, direct and earnest. Without any
orator1cal flourish, inference or inuen-
DO, Mr.. Smith sent thrills of sensation
through the court room and caused
deep gloom to settle upon the defense.
The evidence will disclose that Ed
wards and Crossman made a corrl1pt
bargain with Gardner; that this was
done at the dictation of Fred w.
Ames and his brother, the mayor of
this city, A. A. Ames," shouted Mr..
smith to the jury. He declared that
the state would prove beyond anv
question that corrupt bargain exist
ed whereby Chief Ames was to protect
confidence men for money considera-
uon; that there was an agreement
that certain police officers, under the
specific orders of the mayor and the
chief should Cooperate with conf
dence men in operating their swim
ding games; that Chief Ames partici-
pated in the proceeds of the Roman
MEX swindle, and that the III ief had
a list of protected crooks at head
quarters SO that they might be iden-
tined and released in case of arrest
Detective Christopher Norbeck, who
ned While he was himself on trial and
was afterWard captured is to be the
states star witness and his testimony
is awaited with feverish anxiety by the
excited populace.
That the defense realizes the states
intention to make the case against the
chief its star effort was evidenced by
the sudden appearance of former
county Attorney Frank NJ. Nye on
Ames' sides of the table This distin-
gulshed advocate is to be thrown into
the breach at the eleventh hour when
the evidence is all in, to make the des-
perate attempt to sweep away the ef-
fect of the states testimony by his sill
Ver-tongued eloquence.
Norbeck Sensation Promised.
The greatest interest centers in the
Norbeck story promised by Mr.. Smith.
The story he will tell will be a corrobo-
ration OF that told by Edwards, b ut
will go more into detail as to the exact
manner that was employed. There will
also be some facts introduced which
will show how the abandoned women
in the ''red light district have been
mulcted in order to satisfy the cray-
lngs after gold of the present adminis- \
tration.
The story which is to be told will far
surpass anything which even the most
preJudicial anti administrations ever
dreamed of, and will make the worst
cases of known highway robbery ap-
pear as child's play in comparison with
the high handed manner in which the
rights of others have been regarded by
those in whom they were supposed to
place their confidence.
In opening the case to the jury AS
sistant County Attorney AL J. Smith
said:
THE. state will show you that since
November last certain men known as
Billy Edwards, Lincoln G.. CroSsman and
otherS, Were in the city of Minneapolis,
and that they were confidence men, The
evidence will show you that this defend
ant was chief of police of this city at
that time and is so still 1t will show YOU.
too, that Edwards and Crossman made q
corrupt agreement with Irwin A. Gard
ter an inspector, and Mr.. Norbeck will
tell you, from the stand. that he did make
such an agreement and that it was made
under the instructions or the chief of po-
lice ana his brother, the mayor.
Police Aided Crooks.
1--WE will show you that Edwards and
CroSSman operated SWindling games NOT
only with the knowledge of the police, but
cialS assigned to that duty by this de-
fendant. They had policemen in their
employ and paid them regularly.
I'VE will show you that at least one Of
these men was instructed to see that
money was paid to one 'Reddy' Cohen by
the abandoned women of this city and
we will have one at least or these women
on the stand to tell you how they sweated
her out of the money she had made in
her nefariouS trade.
I'VE will show you that the chief was
provided with lists OF employees Of the
big mitt gang so that they might be
turned loose if arrested. We will show
you, too, that Edwards was arrested but
was released by the chief and his gam
bling paraphernalia returned to him.
1.-The evidence will show, also, that after
Roman Mick had been swindled out of a
S7!5 draft by these men, ne went to the
in his power to prevent MEX getting his
money back. even detailing q captain to
run him out of town"
Crossman Hits Hard.
The states first witness was Link"
Crossman. He was the financial man
of the firm of Edwards and Crossman,
whose duty it was to take care of
kicks that came from suckers after
they had been skinned. The story he
told was similar to that which has
been recounted before.
do you know the defendant?" ask
ed Mr.. Smith.
Il do. He is chief of police"
What business were you engaged
in during November of 1902"
big mitt"
The crowd Uttered and the officer
was instructed to enforce order. Mr..
Crossman then told the locations of
the various big mitt joints and gave
the names of the men employed in
them.
Whom did you see before you
Continued an Third Para.