The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-03
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
The Laws DELAYS.
To the Editor of The Journal.

IL Inc t01tor OF Inc journal. IS.
An editorial in your valuable paper Of
the. LIST inst, under the, heading 1.-THE
Laws Delay is Unwholesome,' seems to
be somewhat extraordinary and to merit
notice. The date of the trial Of DR.. Ames
is not clear In my mind, yet am sure
that several weeks have elapsed since the
termination Of that extraordinary trial in
Judge Elliott's court. However, soon after
the jury rendered a verdict in the case
the doctor was sentenced to the states
prison for the term Of six years, which, in
consideration of his advanced age and
broken constitution, meant Imprisonm ent
for life The bonds that the doctor gave
renders his surrender to the state prison
authorities assured in the event that the
court does not, reverse the case
and grant new trial. and provided, fur
ther, that the board Of pardons does not
yinterpose In his behalf. The tier Of this
has not the pleasure Of a personal &C
quaintance with judges Elliott, but taking
the course of the trial as made known to
the public thru the Jealous press of Min
.neapolis, it can hardly be claimed that the
trial court exhibited any Partially for
DR.. Ames' Thru this editorial the attor-
ney general of the state is urgently re-
quested to have other matters of import
ance postponed so that this Ames case
may be considered by the court Of last re-
sort without delay to the end that the
decision Of Judge EHiott may be affirmed,
for nothing but the affirmance of that
judgment will do so that he may be in
post haste railroaded into the penitentiary.
This Is perhaps a very mild and GER
tainly conservative criticism Of the above
mentioned: editorial. DR.. Ames is not
simply a citizen of Minneapolis, but citi-
zen of the state Of Minnesota, and thous-
ands of our people recognize his gener-
osity, his patriotism and his many noble
rlS, Nj 4i,4t ~ ~ &l~o
jpenitentiary. that he shall be landed III
the state prison, not thru the passion and
prejudice Of the hour, but after a fair and
impartial trial and the review of that trial
with caution and deliberation by the SUI
;preme court Of this state.
i In your editorial you assume that the
doctor is guilty and that without question,
that all of the doubtful and questionable
evidence that went to the jury should be
without delay adjudged as being testimony
of the highest character. Did 1t ever &C.
cur to you that the Incorporate assaults
made upon DR.. Ames by the Minneapolis
press while he was absent as an invalid
may have had an improper effect upon the
determination of the case in Judge FL
liotts court and that Judge e. upon
more mature reflection, after the excite
ment of the hour had passed, determined
to give the testimony and rulings a more
careful scrutiny which resulted in un-
ayoidable delay? If 1t is the purpose OF
this editorial to in some form reach the
supreme court in advance of the hearing
i'm that tribunal, I would suggest that
the effort in that direction will be futile
Your editorials from time to time exhibit
| q marked opposition to mob law, yet is il
not certain that when a court of justice
fails to observe the safeguards that the
law accords to the vilest criminal it be.
| comes a mob at once. The prevalent de-
mand made for speedy convictions as a
remedy for lynch law is not only incon.
s1derate but must tend, should it have the
effect intended, to remove those funda-
mental safeguards that protect the citizen
You say, more expedition in these con-
spicuous cases would have most whole
| some effect upon the public mind" This
means, .apprehend, that DR.. Ames should
| have been convicted with great speed an6
that the trial court should have at once
without considering any legal questions in.
volved overruled the motion for new
trial and given the defendant a very few
days to perfect his appeal, and that the
supreme court should without delay pass
upon the case and affirm the order ap.
| pealed from and that all Of this would be
of great benefit to the community anc
highly creditable to the administration Of
| justice.
| Austin N. McLindley.
l f-.'