The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-16
.GRE[TS BROTHER
FROM THE STAND
Fred Ames Gives Reluctant
Testimony Against Former
Mayor

Fred W. zAmes, former chief of po-
lice, appeared in the district court yes
terday as an unwilling witness against
his brother, DIR. A A. Ames, the former
mayor, who is being tried on the
charge of accepting money from wom-
en- in return for protection.
The former mayor sat with his head
bowed when his convict brother re-
luetantly told of what he knew about
the game of graft that was played
during the Afnes administration
In answer to the question propound-
ed by Judge Kerr, who asked if he had
any control over Irwin A. Gardner, the
collector of the graft, he said: mo, 1
had nothing to do with Gardner"
He said he had heard money was
being collected by Gardner for police
protection and he had conference
with his brother. the mayor, who said
he would attend to the matter.
Not Willing to Talk
Later there was another conference
and when asked about it he denied TO
answer until ordered by the court to
do So He based his objection on the
ground that the talk was private
conversation between two brothers.
In reply 20 the question, ne said:
Il went to the mayors office and
raised an objection to the existence OF
the graft and the collection of money
money was being raised as a campaign
fund, as was the custom in all admin
istrations, and it was a matter with
which 1 had nothing to do. | told him
would have nothing to do with the
graft and would not permit officers
under me to take part in it.
This was about the extent of his tes-
timony, and wfile the prosecution did
not secure much evidence from him
Judge Kerr expressed himself as salts
fed.
Witness Sees Ames
Ida Eaton gave the most interesting
testimony of the day. She admitted
she had been operating a house and
Gardner had called upon her and di-
rected her to move. She visited the
mayor and he told her he would send
party to call on her. The next day
Gardner appeared and they conversed
about money matters. She complained
of being hard pressed and she did not
pay.
what happened?"
Il was arrested by Capt. Krum-
weide.'
Later Gardner was placed on the
stand and he corroborated the Eaton
womans story to the effect he had
talked with her in the presence OF
Mayor Ames.
Sadie Byrd. at the morning session.
said she had called at Mayor Ames'
office on several occasions for the pur-
pose of meeting Gardner and paying
him money and on one occasion she
met the mayor and had a social talk
for about half an hour. In this con-
versation, she said, nothing was said
about the payment of money.
She admitted she was acquainted
with J. L. Cohen, who succeeded
Gardner as collector of the funds, and
he had been at her place. She had
called at Cohen's store on several oc-
casions and had left money in an en-
velope for Cohen.
The defense thought it scored a
point when Miss Byrd said she had
never been molested by the police ex-
cept under the Ames administration.
Bessie Lee, the complaining witness,
told that she had been directed to pay
money TO Cohen and not to pay any
more to Gardner and she followed the
envelope plan of payment
Defense Makes Plea
The prosecution rested late in the
afternoon, and E. s. Cary. attorney for
Dr. Ames. made his opening address.
He said he would show there was a
conspiracy to send DR.. AmeS to the
penitentiary and he promised to pre-
sent letter written in January, 1865.
by Thomas R. Brown Jr., the former
private secretary to DR.. Ames, in
which he urged the former mayor TO
keep a stiff front and "they would drive
the dogs to their holes
This was while the mayor was fu-
gitive. In his address Mr.. Cary did
not deny that there was grating but
he took the position if there was any it
was by men who took advantage of the
illness of Mayor Ames and looted as
they chose and the mayor knew moth
ing of what was being done.
The case viii be continued tomorrow
and some hitherto unpublished testi-
mony will be presented. The defense
claims to have some interesting evil
dence- and the prosecution believes it
can controyert any fresh testimony.