The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1920-01-24
TRIAL OF M'KINN0N MOVES SLOWLY
Works Sympathy Dodge and Plays Cheap Political
Konkd Come Back From Political Graves Testy-"Slr Joe"
Poker Came-Gambing King Proves Poor Witness
Bmgond Deliberately Vague
Indefinite Witness for Himself Makes Tactical Error By
ing o Start "Hoy War"-Mayor Baxter Is Endorsed

willing, cheerful and efficient little
worker chief McKinnon was during
the streaked Konkel regime. Konkel s
peculiar administrations and the er-
ratio stunts pulled off therein are still
fresh in the minds of the people,
therefore his support looks like a ques-
tionable asset of the defense.
Hot After Poker Games.
During his long lecture on the wit
ness stand, Doctor Konkel, mayor
emeritus, declared that during his ad-
ministration, he ever was hot after
poker games and other gambling en-
terprises.
At that stage of the game, Ed. Han
ton, formerly local representative Of
the Northern Brewing company and
the Big Noise among the sopping vets
in Bingoland, turned to neighbor and
whispered:
"You bet he was! And he always
found 'em, too. Joe could have been
worth considerable money if he had
kept away from the poker games un-
til he really learned how to play the
game"
There has been a belief that the
Superior Telegram has printed verba-
tim reports Of the trial. While this
is true in the main, many good hits
and interesting passages have been
left out for one reason or another.
When "Silver Joe" Konkel was near
the end of his cross-examination, he
blurted out:
"I know where there's a poker
game within four blocks of here, right
now!"
every well, Mr.. Konkel. We will
not detain you longer.' dryly replied
lawyer Hartley.
Even the clacquers from Bingoland
could not forbear to laugh.
McKay's Startling Testimony.
Those who have read the daily pa
pers were compelled to conclude that
county attorney McKay's testimony
was strongly. and exclusively in favor
of McKinnon. He testified to moth
ing on the direct examination that
badly hurt the McKinnon cause but,
when Mr.. Hartley took up the cross
examination, he produced copies Of let
tiers from the attorney general Of Wis
consin to Mr.. Mckay that were VERT
able bombshells in favor Of the pros
ecution and against the defense.
In one letter, fully three pages long,
the attorney general spoke at length
of the immoral and lawless conditions
obtaining in Superior and he wound
up by informing Mr.. Mckay that if
he did not, as county attorney, clean
up the city, legal representative Of
the state would be sent there who
could and would do so.
States. attorney Mckay admitted on
the witness stand that the letter was
authentic and that he had received it.
It further was developed that chief
McKinnon went to Madison to try to
convince the attorney general and
the governor Of Wisconsin that Su-
perior was a quiet, morally clean and
very much law-observing city. The
facts were that the city was quite
wide-open, immoral, lawless and un-
safe for decency, so far as the Bingo-
land belt was concerned, and even
some Of the more aristocratic sections.
Insults for Baxter.
All through the trial the defense
has seemed to be particularly bent upon
insulting mayor Maxter and upon be-
smirching his name. There has been a
bitter, vindictive spirit on the part Of
the lawyers for the defense and the
Bingoland bunch that has monopolized
the courtroom, indicating that they
felt their cause almost hopeless, but
that if defeat were bound to come,
they would leave the mayor badly bat
tered, bruised and covered with nasty
mud.
In evidence of this policy and spirit,
mayor Baxter actually has been Kissed
by the brutal roughnecks when enter
ing the courtroom. Anything in his
favor has been greeted with horse
laughs. Chief McKinnon has been
cheered when entering the room and
applause has greeted any bits of evil
dence favorable to him.
Insidious insinuations have been made
repeatedly to the effect that mayor
Baxter wished to favor certain per-
sonal friends in illegal pursuits and
| low moral endeavor instead of really
cleaning up the town. Lawyer Craw-
ford, early in the trial, indicated that
e also would have some valuable in
formation brought out as to the "tip-
ping off" of contemplated raids on
lawless folk in Bingoland.
Gambling King Testifies.
For the purpose Of proving the first
| contention, one Abraham, an alleged
erstwhile gambling king Of Bingoland,
was put on the stand. His testimony
was so unsatisfactory that quest along
that line was abandoned by the willy
Crawford
As to the insinuation that raids were
tipped off by Baxter to alleged Bin
goland favorites, Mr.. Hartley, attor-
ney for the prosecution, so questioned
chief McKinnon as to compel him to
deny that he ever had any knowledge
of lawless folk being clipped off,
by mayor Baxter.
The alleged former gambling king
started out as very promising wit
| ness for the defense. He said that he