The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-01
FRED ". AMEIS'
TRIAL IS ON
His Attorneys Argue for a
D clay but Are Over
ruled.
ne State Seems Confident
Selection of Jurors Has
Begun.

neapolis police department and Drotner 10
the mayor, was placed on trial in Judge
Simpsons courtroom this afternoon. un-
der charge of bribery. Victor j. Welch,
attorney for the chief presented formal
motion for continuance this morning,
but the motion was denied; the court ap-
pointed triers. and the first juryman was
called for examination at o'clock.
The indictment under which the trial
Is being held accuses the chief Of hav-
ing accepted a bribe Of $50 from Lincoln
G. Crossman, financial partner Of the
"big mitt" combine. 1t is alleged that
the money was paid to him out of the
proceeds of the Roman Mick swindle, the
details OF which are already familiar to
the public through the relation of the
story in both the Gardner and Norbeck
cases.
Even with no more than the testimony
introduced in those trials the case against
the chief would be a strong one; but with
the additional testimony now available
the state is most confident Of the result
Gardner has been convicted and will glad
ly tell all he knows about the transaction
He still retains his liking for Mayor
Ames and refuses to give any testimony
that might result disastrously to the
mayor; but he has no love for the chief
and will make no attempt to shield him.
Norbeck has been brought back to Mime
apolis from Carver where he fled before
mis- trial was completed. Since then he
has thrown up the sponge. To Assistant
County Attorney AL ]. Smith he has made
q full and complete confession. He him
self played a prominent part in the MEX
matter, and his evidence against CAmes
will be direct, conclusive and damning.
Mick May Not Come.
Originally the state planned to bring
MEX here to testify, but 1t may be that
he will not now be needed. Should his
presence be deemed necessary, however.
he will come here. His whereabouts is
known and he himself is anxious to con-
strfbute> @whateve2 Information he may
have regarding Minneapolis police meth
DDS. =, : .F = -. - f~.1,' - =, e
The chief came into court at 10 o'clock
this morning and took a seat at the at =
torneys' table, where he remained during
the argument preceding sent ence in the
King case. He apparently took little in
terest In the proceedings. and avoided,
so far as he could, the many curious
glances sent in his direction. The court
room was packed, but few Of the chiefs
frjAndS mrs n fact Lose
pathy has manifested itself for him than
for any other police official under indict-
ment or tried. The chief is practically
friendless.. His own subordinates will
not cry If he Is convicte ed. Men of the
rank and file realize that his administra-
incompetence as we'll as venality; and
they will not regret his downfall If it
comes.
A Futile Effort for Delay.
Following the Termination of the King
case Victor J. Welch presented to the
court a formal motion for continuance
Of the Ames matter over the term. In
support of this motion he read affidavits
signed by the chief himself, by E. W. God
dard, G. r. Heinrich, James T. Ranger, A.
J, Powers, Fred E. Powers, J. W. Kerr
"A. D. Thompson, H. E. Malmstedt and N
P. Nelson. These aff1davits are, all simi-
lar in character and tenor. They relate
that the condition Of public sentiment in
the city al this time i1 so hostile toward
the police department and It's head that
1t will be impossible for the chief to Sc
cure fair trial. The causes ascribed fol
this condition are sensational and inflam-
matory publications in the daily papers
and the conviction of other police officials
whose trials have preceded this
In court this morning Mr.. Welch real
an editorial from T h J Journa of yes
terday and an editorial from the Tribune
Of this morning in support of his conten-
tion. Both Of these editorials advocated
the trial of the police cases at once: ant
both, Mr.. ,Welch maintained, were cal.
culated to show that 1t would be impossi.
Bile for his client to secure fair and un.
biased jury for the trial of his case.
In reply, County Attorney Boardmar
said ne was not willing to believe fail
and impartial Jury could not be secured
He denied that the people of Hennepir
county were accustomed to taking tneil
opinions from the papers to the extent in
dlcated by Mr.. Welch and called atten.
tion to the fact that the press Of the
state had been almost unanimous in its
espousal of the cause of. Frank H: Harn1I.
ION, WHeH he was placed on trial here fol
che murder of Leonard Day, but that. s
conviction had been secured notwith
standing.
When the press works on the wrons
side" said he, "Its efforts avail nothing
/ cannot and will not believe that jur,
OF citizens. sworn to try this case fairl,
and on its merits. will do other than thei
duty. | feel certain, even admitting tha
this widespread prejudice exists, that i
would not extend into the jury box.
want to say, too, that If this case shoul
be continued over the term the stat
might not be able to secure all of it's wit
nesses. These witnesses can be produce,
at this time. 1t might be a much NOR
dicult task to produce them later"
Mr.. Welch replied briefly. The cour
then overruled the motion for continu
ance, the defense taking an exception
G. A. Petrie, Wendell Hertig and Herman
johnson were appointed triers and re
cess was taken until 2 o'clock.
~. Jurors Come Easily.
The first man called this afternoon wal
Almar e. Allen, SO Highland avenue, man
ager Of the Home Savings and Loan asso
citation. The defense did not challenge
Questioned by the state MIR. Allen: ad
mitted he knew both Mr.. Welch and Mr.
Hubachek. He said he had no relative
Continued ON Second Page.
r - - (. 3