The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-02


sharper and all around confidence worker,
said on the stand in the Gardner case,
this morning, that Christ Norbeck, de-
tective in the pay Of the city, and who is
now under Indictment for bribery, was
directly responsible for the opening of
big mitt joints in Minneapolis. Edwards
testified that Norbeck came to him with
q proposition to open a Joint and
asked how much he would pay the police
for the privilege. His story of the con-
yersation follows:
1 had been out 10 the coast and hadn't
seen Norbeck for some time. After l re-
turned I boarded Minnehaha car one even
ing to go down to South Minneapolis to visit
o friend. Norbeck and Detective De Laittre
were on the car. When Norbeck me
he came up and shook hands and said:
"Hullo, Billy, how goes it, l said, moi
very we'll" Then he says Things have
changed since you went away. Me and
Gardner are the whole thing now. Before
you left they thought didn't know anything,
but l turned few tricks and now l N 1t.
I'm glad Of that, Chris l said. He says,
1--WE got great things for you. I'm going
to fix it up for joint for you. That's
good" I said, but I don't believe you can
do it 20, yes cam he replied: m 1t
now: Gardner and me- ''Well II you can
do it, says I. there's money in it, How
much can you pay?" he asked. 20. $3.50 or
5000 week" says I. That settles it, he
said. "Il take you down to see Gardner
and we'll fix IT. up" Then he made an ap-
pointment to meet me the next night and
We went down to Gardner's house togetner.
I had never met Gardner until that night.
Did this conversation occur Oh %n ~
street carr" asked Assistant County Az
torney AL ]. Smith. -5. ~
No. sir Norbeck told me to get Off the
car at Twelfth avenue S. He said he wanted
to talk to me, and that 1 could go on down
to South Minneapolis afterwards. He ana
and Detective De Laittre got OF together
Then he sent De Laittre off on some busl-
ness and we stood there on the corner anu
talked.
, Elsewhere in his testimony Edwards
said that when he and Link Crossman
paid Gardiner the $500, upon the payment
of which the present Indictment is based,
Gardner had shown them lot Of bills,
and iokingly asked how they would like
to have the roll. The witness added:
I said, That looks pretty good to me, y
and Gardner told us that he had collected
the money from the women he had on MS
staff and that he was going to pay 1t over
to the "old man when he got back from
his hunting trip next morning. Afterwards
he told me that the mayor had been much
pleased with our $500 and that he said every
thing was all right and for us to go ahead.
Jurors In ReGalia.
When the Gardner jury made It's ap-
pearance in court this morning each man
wore a purple necktie and red carna-
ton. It is said that the ties were tur-
nished by the publicity agent of the Elks
fair, purple being the Elk color
Jailor Galbraith had two letters brough
into court He tore them open and the!
were first read by the court before TIM
Juror was allowed to make himself maste
OF their contents. This is simply anotne
indicat ton of the unusual care being ex
ercised in this case to guard against tn
possibility Of improper influence.
The trial of the case was considerabl!
delayed this morning. A new venire o
turymen had been drawn, fully one-thirt
of whom had some reason to present VIII,
they should not be compelled to serve
While Judge Harrison listened to thei
excuses the Gardner matter was com
PEELED to wait.
Finally BILLY" Edwards was called t
the witness chair and his examinatio
was resumed.
do you know whether Mr.. Norbec
was ever In your joint when you wer
playing the big mitt gamer" asked AS
. sistant County Attorney Al J. Smith.
He was; yes, sir. He came in once an
sat right behind man from whom "
got $3.50. The game was stud poker.