Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Case No. 6598. Interview with Gilbert Henry Stephenson, February 15, 1921.

WARDEN’S OFFICE STATE BOARD OF CONTROL

Minnesota State Prison ----------
J. J. SULLIVAN, WARDEN P. A. HILBERT, CHAIRMAN
C. J. SWENDSEN RALPH W. WHEELOCK
DOWNER MULLEN, SECRETARY

Stillwater, Minnesota,
February 15, 1921

INTERVIEW WITH G. H. STEPHENSON #6598
Claims this is his true name, 34 years old. Single. Mother dead, father living at Duquette, Minn. Two brothers at Duluth, one at Lamberton, Minn. and one at Moose Lake, Minn. Also has five sisters living in different portions of the state. All married. Has been making his home at Duluth.

Claims this is his first arrest. Is here for the crime of Riot which was in connection with the lynching of three negroes under arrest at Duluth. Says he is not guilty and had nothing to do with the affair, excepting that her was in Duluth and on the street at the time, but did not even see the actual lynching, altho (sic) claims that he saw all three of the men after they had been hung. Says that the witnesses for the state either swore falsely or were mistaken in identity, this however, he claims is not probable on the part of some of the witnesses at least as he was well known to them. Had a friend who worked in the jail at Duluth and had been in the habit of going to the jail frequently to see this man and in this man became known to the officers there. At the time this occurred says he was working and boarding with one C. T. LeMasurier living at 326, E. 2^nd Street, Duluth. Says he came home from work that night and changed his clothing with the idea of going to a theatre. Says about nine o’clock the telephone rang and Mr. LeMasurier asked that her come down down (sic) and bring his (LeMasurier’s) wife with him. They were to meet him at a certain place which they did. Does not know how this riot started nor just exactly how they managed to get the negroes out of the jail, but did see part of the water fight with the fire hose that took place at the jail. Says he went down with this man’s wife, met him and was with them on the streets until about eleven o’clock at which time they started for home, but he stopped to get a drink and lost the others in the crowds and could not find them, but did run across their daughter who had not been with them, and another young man, and that he is innocent and that the witnesses were mistaken. Thinks that perhaps some of the witnesses testified as they did in orger to protect themselves or others of their friends.

Claims never to have had any trouble of any kind before and that he had been steadily employed, his last employment being that of a truck driver for Bloom & Company, Duluth. Claims does not use liquor and has not since 1917 at all. Smokes and chews, does not gamble nor associate with the wrong kind of women and never used drugs.