The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-02

Strand by strand the net Of the states
evidence is being spun round Former
Mayor A. A. Ames. Irwin A. Gardner
yesterday told in detail a complete and
connected story Of the system of graft"
Of which he was the chief collector.
This morning Thomas r. Brown. former
secretary to the ex-mayor, and Christie.
pher G. Norbeck, ex-detective, corrobor-
ated the story in many essential details.
Judging from the progress thus far.
made, from the defendants obvious pre-
dtcament and from previous statements
made by counsel it now seems inevitable
that the Ames defense will be mental
responsibility.
There are many reasons for this con-
clusion. In the first place Mr.. Erwin,
chief counsel for the defense, is authority
for the statement, made some time before
the trial to friend, that insanity was
the only foundation upon which could be
erected the superstructure Of successful
defense. In accordance with this ex
pressed belief, the defense is known to
have followed this line of heredity insan-
ity and paresis to the extent of having
secured witnesses to show this condition
of the defendant. DR.. J. w. Mcdonald
has been in court several times since the
opening of the trial, as have other mem
bers of the medical profession.
In the next place the states case is
growing stronger with every witness and
there seems to be no other loop hole than
that presented by the insanity theory.
Again, the attitude Of the defense at
torneys in the cross examination of wit
nesses seems to indicate that they ex-
pect to gain little thereby. In each in
stance so far, the cross examination has
been brief and no strenuous endeavor has
been made to impeach or disqualify the
man upon the stand. In fact, so far, the
Sofo ocsSc how RI
emphasize the points brought out by the
state. This fact, in view Of Mr.. Erwin's
reputation. as an exhaustive and close
cross examiner, seems particularly sig
niicant.
An Odd Trick Of Time.
Mr.. Erwin, DR.. Ames' chief counsel,
and his partner, Henry S. Mead, as at
torney for Irwin "A. Gardner, are believed
to be largely responsible for the "omni-
| bus Indictment which they are now try
| ing to overturn.
| AS attorneys for Gardner before under
| taking Ames'' case, the lawyers naturally
desired to advance the young mans in
! terests and in this endeavor they are
said to have consulted with the county
attorney, induced their client to go be-
fore the grand jury and by telling all he
knew to secure immunity from further
prosecution. In order still farther to ad
vance the interest of Gardner and clinch
his escape from punishment, they are
said to have assisted the county attorney
with advice and to have suggested and
! helped to formulate the omnibus" in
| dictment which seems likely to prove sc
disastrous to Former Mayor Ames.
This was done only after DR.. Ames
| was well out of the state and his physi-
cal condition was believed to be of such
a nature as to preclude the possibility OF
l his avey. returning stand trial finder
| these conditions the new indictment,
drawn so well that no flaws have been
found in it, was responsible for Gardner
probable dismissal and was believed tc
| be capable of working no particular harm
to the infirm doctor.
States Case Well In.
The states case is now practically in
and what remains is largely Of a cor
/ roborative nature. It is understood thai
George Sinclair, captain Of the South Side
station, will be called to tell of his work
! in driving "street walkers out of bust
ness for the protection of the women who
| were paying the regular graft" Other
/ officers engaged in the same line Of work
| including Henry Krumweide, John Long
Frank Zalusky and others, will probably
then be sworn and will be followed by thu
1 women.
From the line Of questions asked Mr.
Brown this morning it is evident that
Mrs. Ames will take the stand and testify
that Brown told her that he did not see
Gardner give Ames the $500 in question.