Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Application No. 5151. Letter from John B. Richards to Board of Pardons, July 7, 1921.
Type of event: Incarcerations
Location: Minnesota; United States
Addressee: Board of Pardons
Addressor: John B. Richards
Document date:
Document type: Correspondence
Citation:
Minnesota. Board of Pardons.
Gilbert Henry Stephenson: Application No. 5151.
Pardon Application. File no. 5151, 1921
Correspondence
Letter from John B. Richards to Board of Pardons, July 7, 1921.
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John B. Richards
Counselor at
Law
Suite 314 First National Bank
Bldg.
Duluth, Minn.
July 7th 1921.
To the Honorable Board of Pardons,
of the State of Minnesota:
St. Paul, Minn.,
Gentlemen:
My attention
has been called to the case of Gilbert H. Stephenson convicted last September of
rioting in Duluth on June 15th 1920. It was claimed that he was on of
a mob, which, inflamed with passion, over the alleged assault upon a white girl,
attacked the jail and hung three negroes in custody.
It is said that the
crowd around the jail was larger than 5000; and its frenzy overcame the opposing
police force. While many persons were active in the extreme measures taken,
there were comparatively few arrests and but two or three convictions of
rioting.
My interest has been aroused by facts stated indicating that very
grave doubt exists whether Gilbert H. Stephenson took part in the riot.
I
did not hear the testimony; but there appears to be so much variation,
uncertainty and mistake as to the appearance and identity of the defendant,
Stephenson, as to excite serious doubt of his guilt as charged.
This doubt
is increased by the positive statement of Sargeant (sic) Ricketts heretofore
made to you, who was on duty at the police stations, and was face to face with
the leaders of the mob, who says that he had know Stephenson for eight years,
would have recognized him if active in the mob, and that he did not see him
taking any part in the riot.
It appears also that Stephenson is a young man
of good family, of good character and good habits. I know some of his relatives,
and nothing but good of all. He certainly has no criminal strain. His father is
J. M. Stephenson, now living at Duquette, Minnesota, who is a veteran of our
Civil
John B. Richards
Counselor at
Law
Suite 314 First National Bank
Bldg.
Duluth, Minn.
war, belonging to the 3rd Iowa Cavalry.
It is certain,
also, that public sentiment was greatly excited, demanding some sacrifice, some
satisfaction by way of convictions to atone in part for the stain and disgrace
put on Duluth by that mob; and the jury was undoubtedly influenced by that
public feeling; and it may not have viewed the evidence in as favorable light
for the defendant as was his just due.
Under all these circumstances, and
especially in view of the punishment already inflicted upon Stephenson by his
imprisonment for a full year, I am convinced that justice would be done, and no
public wrong committed, if your Honorable Body should now grant Stephenson a
full pardon.
I do not understand just why no appeal to the Supreme Court was
taken from the verdict; but failure to take such appeal should not cause your
body to fail to give weight to the other facts above stated.
Very
Respectfully Yours,
John B. Richards