Max Mason. Application No. 6205. April 1924. July 1924. October 1924.

6205 – 5702 – MASON, MAX (5702) Convicted July 30, 1921 in St. Louis County of Rape and sentenced to the Prison for 5 – 30 years.

[April 1924]

Age 23 years. Asks clemency as “from the testimony offered at the trial it is apparent that the verdict of the jury was due entirely to passion and prejudice; that the evidence was not sufficient to sustain a conviction; that your petitioner is innocent; that he comes squarely within the contemplation of the duties of the Pardon Board in the granting of relief from punishment improperly inflicted through a story which in its entirely is unusual and strikingly improbable and calculated to create bias and dethrone reason in the mind of the average juror to the extent of depriving him of that sane and wise judgment that should actuate the mind of a fair and impartial juror.”

BRIEF FACTS: Mason was working for the John Robinson circus which showed in Duluth on June 15, 1921. It was claimed that a young man and woman visited the circus this evening and that six colored men, one of them Mason, grabbed this young woman and took her to a ravine and that five of them ravished her, that the young man was kept under control by a revolver held by one of the party. He was arrested that night, but they failed to identify him and he was released. He was arrested again the next day in Virginia and brought back to Duluth. He was one month later identified. He was convicted but still claims innocence. He says that the people of Duluth were worked up over the matter and that the County Attorney was anxious to secure a conviction. Three men suspected of complicity in the crime were hung by a mob.

PRISON: First grade. General health good. Application for parole denied for fourth time in March, last.

Accomplices, William Miller, Louis Hayes, Frank Spicer, Clarence Green, L. Williams and Nate Gray.

Served thirty days on Workfarm at Louisville, Ky. Information received cover his time will and speak well of him. Kept steadily employed, spoken of as honest and associates not be for one of his class.

Single. Parents dead. One brother and two sisters living in Alabama.

STATE AGENT, BOARD OF PAROLE. There has always been considerable mystery and doubt in the minds of the Duluth people about this case. There are people living there who doubt if there was any crime committed, there are many other who think that at least five other should have been convicted. There is a great deal of criticism over the way the matter was handled by the police and others. The real truth will probably never be known. This man’s conduct and appearance here is good.

Letter of County Atty. (Mason Forbes) January, 1923.
The defendant was rather unfortunate in that he was the only one of the colored men involved who was convicted. Personally, I never was of the impression that the evidence was any too strong in his case, and if he had been a white man, I am rather doubtful if he would have been convicted.

118

[July 1924]

ADVISEMENT CASES.

6114 – THOMPSON, IRVINE (5814) Convicted November 23, 1922, in Rice County, of Rape and sentenced to the Reformatory for 7 – 30 years.

See April 1924 Calendar Page 21.

6205 – 5702 – MASON, MAX (5702) Convicted July 30, 1921, in St. Louis County, of Rape, and sentenced to the Prison for 7 – 30 years.

See April 1924 Calendar page 118.

6206 – 5745 – SMITH, CARL B. (7222) Convicted October, 1921, in Ramsey County, of Subornation of Perjury, and sentenced to the Prison for 1 – 5 years.

See April 1924 Calendar page 109.

6205 – 5702 – MASON, MAX (5702) Convicted July 30, 1921 in St. Louis County of Rape and sentenced to the Prison for 7 – 30 years.

Age 23 years [October 1924]

See April, 1924 Calendar, page 118.

State Agent, Board of Parole: There has always been considerable mystery and doubt in the minds of the Duluth people about this case. There are people living there who doubt if there was any crime committed, there are many other who think that at least five other should have been convicted. There is a great deal of criticism over the way the matter was handled by the police and others. The real truth will probably never be known. This man’s conduct and appearance here is good.

COUNTY ATTORNEY: (January, 1923) The defendant was rather unfortunate in that he was the only one of the colored men involved who was convicted. Personally I never was of the impression that the evidence was any to strong in his case, and if he had been a white man, I am rather doubtful if he would have been convicted.
(Mason M. Forbes)

In conversation with Mr. Forbes in May, 1924 he recommended that his man be released and returned to his home in the South.

[Handwritten] Denied


6059 – 6306 – NELSON, GEORGE (5982) Pleaded guilty Jun 18, 1923 in Ramsey County to Grand Larceny, second degree and sentenced to the Reformatory for 0 – 5 yrs.

July, 1924 Calendar, page 136.

Recommendation from judge and county attorney in behalf of George Nelson and his accomplice, George Webster.

Stole a Ford Sedan from in front of Miller Hospital and sold it for $475.

United States Veterans Bureau offers to secure position for him.


6245 – GROVER, HUGH (7655) Pleaded guilty December 5, 1923 in Carlton County to Carnal Knowledge and sentenced to the Prison for 0 – 7 years.

Age 27 years. See July, 1924 Calendar, page 34.

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