The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-05-08
AMfS TELLS IT
FORMER MAYOR TAKES THE
STAND IN HIS OWN
BEHALF.
INSANITY Will Be DEffNSl
HEREDITARY INFLUENCE AND
DISEASE UNBALANCE HIS
MIND.
PROSECUTION RESTS ITS CAST
DEFENDANT DENIES ON STAND
THAT HE RECEIVED BLACK
MAIL.

the defense in the trial of DR.. Albert
AlonzO Ames, former mayor of Min
neapolis, as outlined yesterday in the
opening statement of Attorney Will
lam Erwin, chief counsel of the ac-
cused. The statement was made at
the beginning of the afternoon. The
state rested at 1880 o'clock in the
morning.
DR.. Ames, the first witness sum.
none by the defense, testified that
in the Civil wal he had contracted
diseases, the effects of which had
never disappeared. Shortly after his
return he was stricken with intermit-
tent fever, followed by general de-
bility. In the latter part of 1901 and
the first of 1902 the malady eliminated
in abscess Of the liver, which required
his departure to West Baden, InG.,
and Louisville, KY, for treatment.
Physicians will testify, according to
the statements of Mr.. Erwin. that the
abscess of the liver, together with
hereditary influences, affected the doc
tors mind, and that particularly at the
time OF the police scandals he suffered
from decisions and Authorizations. One
delusion was that his wife had secured
a divorce; another, that in an opera
ton on a child he had remover the
stomach and liver and that the child
to live; still another, that
he had been presented with a watch
which registered the humidity of the
atmosphere and the temperature of
the human body.
His Mind Unbalanced.
Hereditary Influences, Mr.. Erwin
said, united with physical disease in
the defendants mind. His
brother for several years was confined
in an asylum and is now practically in.
His father died of cancer, in
volving hidden complications, as did
fathers mother.
The defense does not rely, however,
entirely on the insanity theory. DR..
.mes fatty denied any completely in
The alleged blackmail. He issued no
orders to Gardner, Norbeck or police
officers to extOrt money from lewd
women, with the understanding that
hey be allowed to conduct houses of
fame. On returning from his hunt
ng trip in the latter part of 1901 he
heard that Gardner, during his alb
had been meeting prostitutes
II his medical office, whereupon he in
his assistant in no uncertain
.erms that such practice must be dis
continued.
The defendant emphaticallv denied
nat ne had ever received money
Gardner collected from fallen ONE
heard from various sources that
n was collecting money for an
campaign fund.-. He did not
Know that Gardner vas doing SO, and
Had No Intimation
any of the police officers were in
-olved in the transaction. Personally
e was always opposed to the practice
soliciting campaign funds.
The previous character and reputa-
or the accused was emphized by
defense. Mr.. Erwin reviewed his
in the Civil war. his four
as mayor of Minneapolis, as
yell as his election to the legislature
1 Minnesota, and stated that never
ntil the recent alleged scandals had
word of dishonor been breathed
galnst him. Gardner. "a confessed
lackmailer;' Brown, who by Offering
astimony sought immunity from pros
cution, and Norbeck. convicted of
ribery, Mr.. Erwin maintained, were
ne only witnesses against DR.. Ames,
their word should not be relied on
preference tc one who had done
onor to his city and country.
The action of the defense in MAKING
rental responsibility the PRINCIPAL
lea is thought to be caused by the
0mplete chain of evidence submitted
y the prosecution. This
Chain Was Completed
esterday by the testimony Of several
women of the town. to the effect that
ley had paid Gardner from SIS to s25
ach for what they supposed was pro-
sctlon from prosecution. Louis An.
erson, who ran a saloon under the
OF Ray Harris, the woman who
as fined $50 by mistake, also testified
lat Norbeck had given him $50 and
ursuant to instructions he had given
TO the woman.
DR., Ames appeared a picture of
salth on the stand. He admitted that
had gained twenty pounds since his
from New Hampshire, and
his recovery as some.
ling remarkable.
The prosecution in the cross-exam.
alton recalled the doctors flight to
est Baden, Ind; Louisville, KY, and
eW Hampshire. Mr.. Boardman Tue
oned particularly the defendants
urney alone, in inclement weather
I'd in a feeble condition, from Ken
cky to the East. why he started hur-