The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-08
The Ames Verdict,

The verdict Of guilty in the Anes case
heightens the feeling Of self respect which
the people of this community are entitled
to entertain.
When the jury said yesterday that DR..
A A. Ames is guilty they rendered a serv-
ice to the city of Minneapolis which the
people of this city can well afford to rec
ognize.
There was considerable apprehension
lest the jury should not be able to reach
an agreement; but the men who composed
It appeared to have been made of very
substantial and reliable stuff. LAS a re-
suit Minneapolis occupies a higher place
in the estimation of the world to-day than
she did yesterday. This verdict is the
browning success of a courageous and
brilliant prosecution of the ,nastiest nest
of criminals that ever made their head
quarters in an American city. Not even
4 the revelations in the celebrated prose-
cutions of the New York police developed
a lower state Of deprayity, a grosser va
rety of immortality, a more disgusting
Partnership of authority with vice and
crime than existed here.
It will be to the everlasting credit of
this community that not only were the
underlings prosecuted and punished, but
that the head center, the presiding genius,
if not the clever origina tor of every form
of graft. the one whose participation and
approval and lions share Of the profits
made it possible for this system of graft
to exist, has been reached by the hand
of the law and is now held in it's strong
grip. It would have been a gross and
cruel miscarriage of justice to punish his
subordinates. the willing agents Of this
q grating system, and allow the chief of
the disreputable gang to go free. Hence
the special Importance and value of the
e conviction of ex-Mayor Ames.
The benefit to be derived from this re-
suit is not confined to Minneapolis alone.
Every boodler and CRATER has been given
stern warning by this conspicuous in
stance of the ability of the law to reach
the chief criminal, that his turn is likely
4 to come if he persists in his evil practices.
Every community infested with boodlers
and grafters will be encouraged to rid
itself of the plague and the cause OF
immeasurably by this happy. result.
When we speak of it as a happy result
we do not think of it without feeling OF
pity for the wretched old man who stands
before his fellow townsmen to-day hui
y inflated, dishonored, ruined in reputation
and near his end. No one can view such
a miserable spectacle without feeling
u of pity; but sympathy is another propo
a4 sition. Sympathy palliates and excuses
There is no pallation no excuse possible
in the mind of any right thinking person
for the offense committed, no matter how
genuine and sincere pity for the perpe
traitor of this offense, overtaken in hi!
guilt.
The occasion also calls for generous ant
liberal commentator of the authorities
for the splendid work done in prosecuting
Is this case. County Attorney Boardmal
surprised the public and compelled it
admiration for the skill and effectiveness
with which he nlarshaled his evidence ant
piled l,p proofs of the indictment. In thi:
work he was ably and admirably assisted
& by Mr.. C. S. Jelley Public attention wa
focused upon Mr.. Boardman as it sci
dom has been upon any single individual
in this community when this trial began
and right handsomely has he sustaine'
himself.
s. The jury will no doubt be gratified t
find that the general public took no NOR
stock in the insanity plea advanced b
r,, A y,,ps attorneyS@ than thew did 49,