Max Mason. Case No. 6785. Interview with Max Mason, August 26, 1922.
Type of event: Incarcerations
Location: Stillwater; Washington County; Minnesota; United States
Document date:
Document type: Gov't Record(s)
Document subtype: Interview
Documents: Max Mason. Case No. 6785. Interview with Max Mason, August 26, 1922.
Citation:
Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.) [Stillwater State Prison].
Max Mason: Case No. 6785.
Case Files.
Interview with Max Mason, August 26, 1922.
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OFFICE OF BOARD OF PAROLE
PAROLE DEPARTMENT ---
Minnesota State Prison C. J. Swendsen, Chairman
J. J. Sullivan, Warden J. J. Sullivan, Secretary
Stillwater, Minn. H. C.
Swearington
F. A. Whittier, State Agent
August 26, 1922.
State Agent’s interview with Max
Mason #6785
True name, 23 years old, single, home in Decatur, Ala.
Parents died when he was quite young. He has on Brother and two sisters living
in Alabama where he was born and raised. 8th Grade in school and is a
Methodist. He is a common laborer. Admits for the first time that he was
convicted of Grand Larceny in his home town and was in prison at Wetumka,
Alabama for six years. Later was released on August 28th, 1916, and
went to Indiana. He was there for a time and on April 24th up to the
time of his arrest in June, he worked for the John Robinson Circus. On June
15th they were showing in Duluth and at nite (sic) a young man and
woman visited the grounds and it was claimed that six colored men 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 nite (sic) but they failed to identify him, he was arrested
the next day in Virginia and brought back to Duluth. One Month later, he was
taken to the show grounds and under as near the same conditions as possible,
they then identified him by his voice and walk. He claims that he knows nothing
about this offense and had nothing to do about it. Claims also that he heard
nothing of this among the colored men, then or while in jail relative to the
crime and that he has no knowledge who assaulted this girl. At his trial he was
represented by F. L. Barnett, a colored Attorney from Chicago also R. C.
McCollough (sic) of Duluth, they being complied by the National association of
the advance for colored people. His case went to the Supreme court and was there
affirmed. He says there were thirteen colored men arresated (sic) in Virginia
and that thirteen were in Duluth, seven of them were turned loose, three were
tried and three hung by a mob. Miller the other man tried was acquitted. His
claim is that he did not have a fair trial, that the people of Duluth, were
worked up and excited and that the County Attorney wanted to have a conviction
and that he was unfair. He says Judge Nelson was very fair. Told him the County
Attorney had the reputation of being a fair man and I did not believe that he
would want to have an innocent man convicted, but he insists very persistently
that he is not guilty. He writes to his sisters and to a Minister.
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 others who think that at least five others 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 of the whole matter will
probably never by known. This man’s conduct and appearances here is
good.
F. A. Whittier
Faw m State Parole Agent.