The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-10
STATES FOXY MOVE
Three New Indictments Against Joe
Cohen Charge Him With Com
pounding q Crime.
On Facts Admitted in the Ames
Case His Conviction Seems {
Already Assured.

Joseph Cohen, collector of the graft
in the later days of the Ames' regime,
was arraigned before Judge Brooks this
morning, under three new indictments,
each Of which accuses him Of compound
ing a crime" and all Of which are based
upon his collection Of money from women
of the red light district. This makes
seven indictments in all that bear Cohen's
name as principal. Those returned this
morning, however, are the most import
ant, and in all probability, Cohen will
be tried upon one Of them some time next
week. ...'.
AS the indictments were read to him in
court he entered pleas Of not guilty In
each case. Jonas Well, who appeared as
his attorney, asked that he be allowed
until Monday to withdraw the plea and
demur If he should see fit to do so, and
this request was granted. No additional
bail was required, Cohen already being
under IS, 600 bonds. The names Of wit
nesses examined by the grand jury are
Identical in each case. They are Otto
Wirtensohn, Jessie Harris Christopher
c. Norbeck, Ida Elliott. Addie Mills, Ethel
Ford. Bessie Lee, Augusta Hayden and
Lena Smith.
The Specific Charges.
The first Indictment Is based upon Co.
hens collection of SIS from Addie Mills
on March 5, 1902. This is the transaction
which the state proved in the Ames case
and which resulted in Ames' conviction.
The specific charge is that this, money
was paid Cohen with the understanding
that he would refrain from informing
against the Mills woman, she being the
proprietor of an immoral resort. The
law makes this a felony, punishable by Inn
prisonment in the state prison or county
jail for not more than seven years; or by
a fine Of not to exceed $1,000, or by both.
No minimum penalty is provided.
The second Indictment accuses Cohen
of having collected SIS from Ethel Ford,
Of 1875 Second street s, on April 5. The
Bessie Lee Of First avenue S, on the
same day. The three cases, together with
the four other cases against Cohen, were
set for trial Oct II.
Hard to Get Away From.
The indictments are most skilfully
drawn and came as a severe blow to the
defense. 1t has been said all along that
Cohen does not intend to deny the col
lection Of money, but that -heswill claim,
on the stand, that no extortion was prac-
ticed. the money having been paid him
for political Campaign fund" Under
these last indictments it will not be neces-
sary for the state to prove extortion., The
mere collection Of the money together
with Cohen's knowledge of the kind of
places in which it was paid him, will DO
sufficient. The indictments do not even
charge him with specifically agreeing to
protect" the women who paid. but only
allege that the money was turned over
with the understanding that he would
not interfere with them. That such an
agreement was "understood'' score OF
more Of women are ready to testify, as a
number Of them have already testified, in
the Ames' case .-. -....., ..-s,-... :.
In other words, the finding of these in
dictments makes the states task sim
pie one; while it greatly complicates mat
ters for the defense. Cohen 8 predicament
is desperate. He has already made ad-
missions that will prove highly damaging
under the charge now urged against him.
From the standpoint Of the state his con
viction is regarded as certain. -