Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-23
WAY OF THE TRANsGREssoR.
Former Mayor OF Minneapolis Finds
tt Quite Rocky.

"
it Quite rocky.
The fugitive ex-mayor Of Minneapolis,
A. A. Ames. has been run to corner In the
obscure village Of Hancock, n. H., where
relatives reside. Although he is reported
to be a mental and physical wreck, he
battled through lawyers to prevent forci-
BILE return to the scene Of his degrada-
ton. He does not love the people Of Min
neapolis as he did in years past when they
showered honors upon him regardless Of
party ties, and it is reasonably certain the
people cordially reciprocate the sentiment.
Several criminal indictments which he
lodged last summer await his return, and
there appears to DO a strong disposition
to press them to a conclusion in the courts
so as to place the seal Of justice on the
author, promoter and beneficiary OF the
city's shame.
In his better days the former was a
practicing physician as was his father be-
fore him. He made a good record in the
civil war. He had been a candidate for
governor Of hiS state. receiving a compare
lively large vote, for DR.. Ames was then a
democrat in a state where democracy is
usually in a hopeless minority. Twice he
was elected mayor of Minneapolis as a
democrat, and while he had what was known
- "AhN~bBth CONGRATULATIONS HO wan
never accused Of personal cr~ookedness.
To hts friends and associates, DR.. Ames
was known as generous to a fault. He
did more charity professional work than
any other physician in the city. But Dr..
Ames' personal habits were bad. He chose
associates Of the slums. DR.. Ames' per-
sonal recklessness led to family difficulties
and the breaking up Of his home. 1t was
his stolid Indifference and hameful levity
at the funeral Of his divorced wife which
first caused a revulsion Of popular feeling
toward him. But still he had a following
and was again elected mayor Of Minneapo-
IFS as a republican, following the demo-
cratic administration of Mayor Gray. From
the moment he came to office the last time
he seemed to be bent merely on loot.
Crooks were placed on the police force.
Colonel Fred Ames, Mayor Ames' brother,
who had come back from the Philippines,
where he had served without honor as an
officer of a volunteer regiment, was made
chief Of police. He was weak and pliable.
That was the reason for his being placed
in such a post. The word went out that
something was doing in Mime
apolis. Crooks fOcked there from
all over the country. There was to be a
carnival Of graft" Crooked gambling
Joints started up all over town. Mayor
Ames appointed a detective and assigned
him to the mayors office. The duty OF this
detective was to collect corruption money
from gamblers and female keepers of i'm
moral resorts. Vile Joints" were opened
all over town under the guise Of candy
stores. Everything paid revenue to the
police department and the mayor. City
detectives were detailed to frighten out Of
town men who had been swindled by con-
hdence men. The crooks we're paying for
protection. and the police department must
see that they got it.
There was too much graft" The police
divided into factions and fought over 1t.
One faction harassed and arrested. the
crooks protected by the other faction, and
the crooks resented 1t. 1t was at this
stage of municipal r~ottenness that an ag-
g~ressive young business man was named
as foreman Of the grand Jury. The split
In the police department and a fight started
upon the sheriff by the Ames gang, so that
no officer of the law would be left to
look after law breakers, gave the grand
jury foreman Al opening. He and some
other members Of jury made up a fund
among themselves and put private de-
tectives-two sets of them-at work col
lecting evidence against the city admin
istration. One set acted as decoys. The
other set did business. Some Of the dis
g~runtled gamblers squealed. One after
another Ames' friends and tools were in
dicted. mes was defiant. He thought
himself too strong for prosecution. No
officer OF the law would dare measure
strength with him. Detective after detec-
i've was enmeshed. Gardner, Ames' col
lector Of corruption money. was indicted.
Then came Ames' brother, the chief OF
police. Finally Ames himself. Colonel
Fred Ames got six years in the peniten-
tiary. Gardner got a penitentiary SEN
tence, but will get a new trial. Coffee
John" Fichette, once captain Of police and
a collector Of graft" was caught in the
net. Death saved him from punishment,
So went the list.
Six indictments were returned against
DR.. Ames. One charged DR.. Ames with
collecting through Coffee John" Fichette
1000 for permitting a vile theater to dc
business in violation OF the law. One
charged attempted bribery Of County Com
missioner Sweet in order to secure his
vote for an Ames tool as sheriff, after
Sheriff Phil" T.. Megaarden had been de-
posed from ONCE. Two indictments charge
him with receiving brides from women
in consideration of permitting them tc
conduct resorts. Still another charges
receiving brides through Gardner.
DR.. Ames was arraigned on three indict-
ments before District Judge Harrison Of
Hennepin county. He pleaded mot guilty, d
but said he was too i'll to stand trial. This
was July IA last. The cases went over the
term. DR.. Ames gave s1O.O 900 bail. and wen
to West Baden, Ind, to regain his health
1t was announced at the time that he might
not return. as he was 10 become house ply.
stefan Of a sanatorium there. But Indiana
did not care to add to its list OF physicians
a man who was under Indictment as a felor
In another state. DR.. Ames was not licensed
He had to give up the prospective place. He
resigned as mayor OF Minneapolis ON August
7 last. He failed to appear when the cases
against him were called in the September
term OF court, and was technically as well
as actually a fugitive from justice. Since
that time he has been in hiding, pursued
with more or less ardor by Minneapolis
nfaeara of tho law Tudga Harrfann ~