Duluth Lyncher Convicted.

DULUTH LYNCHER CONVICTED

John Stephenson, First of
the Nineteen Alleged Mob
Leaders Guilty of Rioting

Duluth, Sept. 2.–(Special.)–Henry Stephenson, 34-year-old truck driver, said to be one of the leaders of the mob which on the night of June 15 stormed the city jail and lynched three negroes, today was convicted by a jury in district court on a charge of rioting in connection with lynching. The jury deliberated 55 minutes. Minnesota has a statute which provides a maximum penalty of five years for rioting.
Stephenson is one of the 19 who are indicted on a similar charge in connection with the lynching, the trials being in progress in all four branches of district court. Thirteen Negroes have also been indicted, held on an assault charge which prompted the lynching. Stephenson with others faces a second indictment, that of murder in the first degree.
That a conviction in connection with lynchings is unusual is regarded here as clearing in a measure the sting which Duluth received as a result of mob rule which prevailed on the night of June 15. It prompted Mason M. Forbes, assistant county attorney in charge of the prosecution to issue a statement tonight that the other cases would be prosecute vigorously. Warren E. Greene, county attorney, who investigated all the cases, stated that he believed more than half of those indicted would meet the same fate as Stephenson.