Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Application No. 5151. Letter from W. G. Smith to Board of Pardons, March 23, 1921.

Type of event: Incarcerations

Location: Minnesota; United States

Addressee: Board of Pardons

Addressor: W. G. Smith

Document date:

Document type: Correspondence

Documents: Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Application No. 5151. Letter from W. G. Smith to Board of Pardons, March 23, 1921.

Citation:

Minnesota. Board of Pardons.
Gilbert Henry Stephenson: Application No. 5151.
Pardon Application. File no. 5151, 1921
Correspondence
Letter from W. G. Smith to Board of Pardons, March 23, 1921.

Images

Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Application No. 5151. Letter from W. G. Smith to Board of Pardons, March 23, 1921.--Correspondence (gif)

View larger image

Image text

New Duluth, Minn., March 23rd. 1921.

To The Pardon Board,

St. Paul, Minnesota.

Gentlemen:-
Never satisfied that Gilbert H. Stephenson really took part in the mob violence of June 15th., 1920, when some negroes, held for an unspeakable crime, were taken from the Duluth Police Station and hanged by the mob, I now feel certain that a serious mistake was made as to the conviction of Mr. Stephenson.
Police Seargeant (sic) Ricketts, who was on duty at the police station when the police were overpowered by the mob, comes forward with the assurance that Mr. Stephenson could not have taken part in the mob violence, as he knows Mr. Stephenson well, and is certain he would have seen Stephenson there if he had taken any part in the unfortunate occurrence.
Many good citizens who know Mr. Stephenson well, speak highly of his character and industry, and I feel sure that anything you can do to correct the wrong apparently done Mr. Stephenson, as to his conviction of rioting, will meet with public approval as well as gratitude of his many friends and relatives.
Yours very truly,

W. G. Smith