The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-02
CHIEF AMEs' LAST ACT
How His Resignation Was Handed
to the Acting Mayor.


to the Acting Mayor.
Six newspaper men, Acting Mayor Fred
NJ. Powers, Police Secretary Ernest
Wheelock, Mayors Secretary T. R. Brown,
City Attorney Healey and Captain John
down and out as chief of the Minneapolis
police department yesterday afternoon.
The last scene of all which marked
Colonies Ames' connection with. the MAJ
chinery Of government in Minneapolis
was enacted at $3.50 O'Clock in the office
of the city attorney, where the acting
mayor had waited patiently for more than
an hour to receive the formal resignation
of the colonel.
The ceremony was brief one when it
finally came to pass. Colonel Ames en-
| tered unannounced, saluted the acting
| mayor as becomes military man. and
| handed him neat typewritten doou-
ment.
There's my resignation, Mr.. Mayor"
| he said.
Mr.. Powers hastily perused the docu-
ment and then signed his name to an
acceptance which he had already made
out.
Colonel Ames took his resignation very
seriously. What may have been joke
| in some mems mouths was no laughing
matter to him. His face wore look OF
grim resolve. but he refused to smile, as
has been his invariable custom. to the
numerous suggestions Of those who
wanted him to laugh his misfortune away.
His tense facial expression spoke only
of long suffering injured innocence and
martrydom.
Immediately after the acceptance Of his
resignation, Colonel Ames withdrew to
police headquarters, where he prepared
to ture. over his Office to his successor.
In explanation of his resignation, he said
he deeply regretted being forced to sur
render at this time. because he would
have preferred to remain in office until
his case had been tried in court. Most
Of his time for the present, he facetiously
observed, would be spent looking out for
indictments.
Some people say it is long way from
an indictment to prison." he remarked,
. "but tell you it's mighty short dis
tance. I escaped last time, but they are
out to get me. and / suppose they will
before they get through"
The Coloners Resignation.
The letter of the colonel's resignation
follows:
Minneapolis, Mimi, Aug /, 1so2.-Hon. Fred
M. Powers, Acting Mayor, City of Minpeapo
liss-My Dear Sir: The present unfortunate
situation Of affairs in this city, as affecting
Its police department, coupled with recen
developments from which 1t appears tha
retire from the office of superintendent O.
police, have, together with other considera
lions, rendered 1t advisable, In my Judgment
} to place in your hands my resignation al
! such superintendent, to the end that sucl
action may be taken thereon by yourself ant
; , the city council as may seem advisable.
Says He Kept Faith.
am aware that, in rendering my resigna
tion at this time, I may lend color to tn
! oft-repeated assertion in the local press dur
ing the last few days that have made prom
ises to the mayor to resign my position.
I have been charged in the newspapers wit
? breaking faith and violating such allege
: promises, and generally have been vllifie
4 and abused by the press without stint an
without mercy. I wish, however, to say t
you in all sincerity that never at any. tim
= or place made any promise to any perso
! whomsoever that would resign my posi-
ton under any circumstances whatever.
am prompted in doing so now chiefly fo
'' the following reasons: - - -
! appreciate the embarrassment in whic
J, you might be placed in view of your pres
;. ept position in the council and candidacy fe
the office OF mayor, in the event that 70
= might feel 1t your duty to exercise your az
thority to declare my Office vacant; the loc;
press demands such action on your part, an
do not wish to involve you, myself, or tt
. police department in legal entanglemen
which would undoubtedly follow it vel
y compelled, In justice to myself to defend N
: office. 81
He Sacrifices Himself. o..
further realize that the tendency Of I'll
!. present bribery charge against me, notwitl
: standing my recent acquittal of simils
. charge after most exhaustive trial, couple
I. with similar charges against other membe
OF the department and the mayor, do n,
tend to the improvement of the morale Of Il
force; such condition, no matter how mut
undeserved tends to initiate against the en
" cheney Of any department. which is subject
daily assaults by the public press even to Il
q. extent OF announcing to the world that o,