The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-10
JOLTS COMING IN
DEFENSE OF AMES
Odell Hints at Startling Revela-
lions Which Will Involve 9th
er Officials Than Ames.
Defense Opens, After It's Motion
for Directed Verdict Has
Been Denied.
Ames Himself Takes the Stand
and Denies Receiving
Graft Money.

After listening to extended argu-
ments, Judge c. B. Elliott this morn
ing, without comment, denied defend
ants motion to strike out certain ma
terial portions Of the states testlmo-
ny and to direct a verdict for the de-
PENDANT in the case Of the state against
former Mayor A. A. Ames, on trial
for accepting bride from Bessie Lee.
r. r. Odell Immediately opened
the defendants case in brief state
ment to the jury of what it is intend
ed to prove and the introduction of
evidence was begun.
Judging from counsel's opening
statement and from the witnesses sub
poenaed, it seems safe to assume that
the Ames defense will attempt to in
troduce evidence of startling ma
ture. 1t is proposed to show a mon
ster scheme Of graft, with the late
Captain John A. Fitchette, the late
Colonel William A. Tanner, Irwin
A. Gardner, Thomas r. Brown and
Christopher Norbeck as the principal
conspirators, and in which DR.. Ames
is conspicuous by his absence, and
of which he was the innocent victim.
The exact scope Of the defensive plan
is shrouded in mystery, but from
yelled hints dropped, it seems that
some present county officials, notably
County Attorney F. H. Boardman, will
be bitterly attacked.
What Oden Promises.
In opening to the jury Mr.. Odell
among other things made the follow
ing assertions:
1--WE will show you that DR.. Ames
has since boyhood, passed in and out
among you. He was three times
mayor of your city and during those
terms the tongue Of scandal did not
even wag against him. Like Caesars
wife, he was above suspicion: ou
1.-THE man, Irwin A. Gardner, was
put in charge of the collections by the
real cashier Of the graft and Ames had
no part in 1t. 1t became necessary
that Gardner be appointed police
officer in order for him to carry on his
work and others went to DR.. Ames
and asked this appointment.
1--WE will show you by competent
evidence that cannot be impeached,
that not one penny Of the graft ever
entered Mayor Ames' hands.
"a collector of graft previous to
Gardeners time will go on the stand,
and by him we will prove to you that
graft was collected and it went into the
hands Of a power higher than the
mayor of Minneapolis.
Or. Ames will go on the stand and
will tell you his own story, the story
of his life from boyhoodp He will
tell you everything. we nave nothing
to conceal.
1--WE will show you tla4 Gardner is
an egregious liar in adt1sion to being
a convict.
1--WE will prove to you that DR.
Ames relied upon this man and upon
his fellows. That he relied upon John
A. Fichette, an old comrade-in-arms
Fichette, into whose hands we will
show you went $1,000 in graft, Of
which this defendant never heard.
1--WE perhaps should say something
to you as to why we are here defend
ing DR.. Ames. I, personally, am here
because I know more about this graf
than any other man present, and
could throw a stone from my office
into the place of the chief Of the graft
THAT is why I am here, and we
will perhaps show you why some Other
people are here and prosecuting thi!
case. ....
eve will show you the character O.
Thomas r. Brown in a light not ia
vorab1e to him.
1--WE will show you the very mo
ment that DR.. Ames discovered wha
Gardner was doing, off went his head
1--WE will prove to your satisfaction
that it was agreed between 'Coffe
John Fichette, Gardner and others
that this nefarious scheme should b
laid at the door Of this old man, D1
Anes. F
Piled Ames with Drink.
'Dr. Ames has one of the keenes
minds that ever lived among yoJ
1t was sometimes befoggled with al
cohol, but at other times no one wa
possessed of keener faculties and bet
ter judgment than DR.. Albert A. Ames
,te,, jotn Ix,t II
tors, who planned to keep him unde
the influence of liquor. One Of ther
at time would take him and fill hir
up socially. Sociability is, in fac
the cause Of all DR.. Ames' troubl,
When one Of the gang had done hi
part, another would take him in tov
take him to another saloon, and S
on, with the result that he was keI
filled up a considerable part Of tn
time"
1--WE will show you that Colonel v
A. Tanner had charge of the graft an
that Coffee John Fitchette was tn
treasurer and that the money we
passed back and forth between the1
and when it wasn't right, there we
trouble"
Gardner Refused Receipt
The defense then called George
Bruyette, who formerly ran a saloo
and gambling-room on Western av,
nue., who testified to conversatic
with Gardner concerning the collie
ton of the gambling graft.
do you know Irwin A. Gardner
was asked.
For eighteen years.
did you ever have any talk vii
him about collecting graft?" Eye
Sir
What was that Conversations"
This question was objected to as il
competent and immaterial and n
having anything to do with the cole
ton of graft from the women allegt
in the case at bar. A wrangle r
suited, Mr.. Carey arguing that it w
part of their defense to show IL
whole scheme of which DR.. Am
knew nothing. The witness was fina
ly allowed to answer.
He said that Gardner had come
him and asked him for 800 whit
would insure him immunity fro
prosecution for running his gamblil
'joint."
did you ask him for a recei
from the chief of police or Il
mayor?" was asked.
Eyes, SIR
did he give you any?'' mo, sir