The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-10-18
DR.. AMES DENIES
STORY OF GRAF
Former Mayor Disputes All
Charges of Accepting Money
for Brides

After q number of witnesses had
been. examined DR.. A. A. Ames, former
mayor of Minneapolis, indicted for ac-
cepting brides, took the stand late yes
terday afternoon in his own behalf and
was questioned for about an hour by
his attorney, E. S. Cary, of St Paul.
DR.. Ames made a general denial OF
all the accusations against him and
asserted he never saw Bessie Lee, the
complainant in the case at bar, except
in the courtroom. Judge Kerr, the
prosecutor, began the cross-examlna-
ton, but had not proceeded far when
court adjourned.
Fred w. Ames, his brother, occupied
a seat in the courtroom yesterday, put
was not called upon to testify, although
it is almost certain that he viii be
called by the defense, and yesterday
Attorney Cary asserted that regard
less of the statements of County At
torney Boardman to the contrary, he
had been summoned as a witness.
Evidence Ruled Out
After the introduction of some tech
meal evidence in the morning MI. cary
called George Bruette, a Saloonkeeper,
with the intention of showing that
Gardner had called upon him to con-
tribute-to the campaign fund" Later
it was proposed to show that the
mayor was unaware of the acts OF
Gardner.
This testimony was ruled out by
Judge Harrison, in spite of the pro-
tests of the attorney for DR.. Ames, who
asserted that Judge Elliott on a former
trial had permitted it.
Then came the character witnesses.
City Treasurer c. E. Hulburt said he
was not qualified to testify and was
excused.
Witnesses who testified to the repu-
tation Of DR.. Ames for honesty and in
tegrity were George G.. Wright, cigar
dealer; N. B. LIE Blond, saddler, and
H. A Montgomery, of the Western
Union Telegraph company, but they
admitted their definition of honesty
applied to straight dealings in money
affairs.
Police Chief Conroy thought "hon-
esty" meant, as rule, square dealing
in money affairs.
Does that mean to include his repu-
tation for morality?" asked Judge
Kerr.
4 never heard anything against his
morality replied the, chief of police,
and there was a smile.
He admitted that public men, includ-
ing himself, had been unjustly ac-
cused.
DR.. George E. Kicker, the city physi-
clan, said that until the exposure of
two years ago he had considered DR..
Ames a man of honesty and Integrity.
A J. Roth, a pawnbroker, said he
had had dealings with Gardner and
at one time had given him silver tea
set He said Gardner had asked him
to say nothing about the affair, for it
would be easy to 'sWear the money on
DR.. Ames," but the tea set could not
be accounted for so easily.
Dr. Ames Is Called
When DR.. Ames was called to the
stand in the afternoon he was self
possessed and told his story in a
straightforward manner, without hest
tation. He told the story of his life
and his career in Minneapolis. He said
positively he had never given any in
structions to Gardner relative to the
collection of the graft and never had
dealings with Bessie Lee.
"Why did you appoint Gardner as a
special policeman" asked Attorney
Cary.
'To assist me in my duties as may
or" answered DR.. Ames.
''Why did you revoke his commits
sion?"
Because the city attorney informed
me that q commission of special po-
liceman limited his functions to GER
tain locality and they could not be
made to extend over the entire city,
answered the former mayor.
Did you authorize any person to col
lect money for police projections"
81 did not"
DR.. Anes denied he had ever con-
versed with Gardner or Norbeck about
the collection of graft, the statements
of Norbeck to the contrary notwith-
standing. He said he had directed Nor
beck to obey his superior officers, and
at that time he meant Gardner.
He said when he learned that the
police were making enforced collec-
lions from women che called the detec-
tive force together and informed every
member personally that he would be
discharged if evidence of any crooked
work could be found"
He denied he had given Gardner $50
to pay the Harris woman, who had
paid for protection, but had been ar
rested and fined. He was vigorous in
his denial of any wrongdoing.
Fred Ames. the former chief of police
who is serving term of six and halt
years in the penitentiary and who
was brought to Minneapolis as a wit
ness, is anxious to return to Saltwater
and an effort was made yesterday to
have the attorneys conclude their eX-
animation in order to permit him to
return to the prison, but this was i'm
possible and the brother OF the former
mayor spent the night in the county
Jail