Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Case No. 6598. Interview with Gilbert Henry Stephenson, February 15, 1921.
Type of event: Incarcerations
Location: Stillwater; Washington County; Minnesota; United States
Document date:
Document type: Gov't Record(s)
Document subtype: Interview
Documents: Gilbert Henry Stephenson. Case No. 6598. Interview with Gilbert Henry Stephenson, February 15, 1921.
Citation:
Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.) [Stillwater State Prison].
Gilbert Henry Stephenson: Case No. 6598.
Case Files.
Interview with Gilbert Henry Stephenson, February 15, 1921.
Image text
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. 2nd 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.