The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-09

Closing addresses to the jury In the
Gardner bribery case will be made to-
morrow and the case will be submitted
to- morrow afternoon. The defense rested
this morning, and the cross examination
time. This afternoon one or two wit
nesses were called in rebuttal; and court
then adjourned until tomorrow morn
ing. - .s..,. j..
= The case has been the most sensational
trial of it's kind ever held in the north
west. It has involved the integrity of
police officials, beginning with the mayor
himself, and extending over to uniformed
patrolmen.- If the testimony of states
witnesses is to be believed, 1t has dis:
closed a state of rottenness in the NUM-
cipality that has scarcely had parallel
outside of New York city. 49,! as.ss :,
Evidence has been introduced tending
to show that the police have systemat-
ically winked at crime that they might
share in it's profits. The chief of police
himself, on the stand, has admitted to an
| Ignorance regarding municipal conditions
that can with difficulty be explained in a
| man holding his position. That corrup-
| ton has honeycombed the administration
can no longer be doubted. It's extent only
| is a mater for speculation. Where there
is much smoke, there is also fire.
| The trial has been replete with sensa-
| tons. An effort was made. to tamper
with the jury, of which the court took ju-
| IL IL
against the life of Assistant County At
torney AL J. Smith, the prosecuting Of
hcer, and the culorit is now in the coun-
ty jail awaiting sentence. The testi-
mony introduced during the trial was, in
itself, of highly sensational character.
| w A Question of veracity. -
/ Now that the end has come, the matter
resolves itself into case Of Katy-did
| Katy didn't. Accusation and denial have
followed each other in their natural Sc
quenee. Where denial was impossible
explanat lion has taken It's place. I'll How
lever, witnesses for the defense have beer
compelled to corrohorate IN detail muct
Of the evidence introduced by the state
Conversations between members of the
police department and members of til.
big mitt combine" have been admitted
An officer who has been connect ed witt
the department for eight years has ties
| titled that he visited big mitt joints, bu
has maintained that he did not know
their real character. Beyond this, irwin
A.. Gardner, the accused man, has &C
knowledged that Billy Edwards, the
state s, star witness, and big mitt oper
at or, was close personal friend ant
that he interested himself in Edwards de.
tense when the "big mitter'. was indicted
for swindling. - 4, =. .,r
There is no dispute regarding the exist
ence of ''big mitt joints" in Minneapoli
under the. present police administration
There is no question about the fact tina
police officials knew the 'big mitters' an,
were on friendly terms with them. Blu
the defense claims that the police were il
ignorance Of the business followed b.
these men, with whom they. talked, at
and drank on many different occasions.
"A Newspaper Called to Account.
This morning. the Minneapolis Time
printed an article in which 1t was sal
that Judge Harrison had held a sta
chamber session with. the Jury on Sunday
The court states that no such meetin
was held; and that the. article is who'll
unfounded. - =. -
@When the matter was first called to tn
attention; of Judeg Harrison he believe
the article TO have been printed in tn
Tribune. and consequently called Arthu
J. Pegler, Tribune reporter, before hin