Carl John Alfred Hammerberg. Case No. 5148. Letter from O. J. Larson to Charles E. Vasaly, March 25, 1921.

Image text

O. J. LARSON
LAWYER
803-804 LONSDALE BUILDING
DULUTH, MINN.

March 25, 1921.

Mr. Charles E. Vasaly, Supt.,
St. Cloud, Minn.

Dear Sir:

Pursuant to your recent request regarding my knowledge of the past life, etc. of Carl John Alfred Hammerberg, I will say that from the investigation I made I was unable to learn anything derogatory regarding his character. He was obliged at an early age to go to work in assisting his widowed mother. He has not had the opportunities of schooling of the average American boy. My recollection is that he is a member of a church and attended the Sunday school. I talked with his Sunday school teacher who recommended him as a boy of good moral character.
It was unfortunate that he was present at the lynching of the negroes but thousands of other youths and adults were also present. No evidence was introduced that he took any active part in the lynching. I am sincerely of the opinion that he should be released as soon as possible. I think he realizes now that it was wrong for him to be even present on the occasion in question. It does not seem just that he should be punished when there are hundreds of others who took an active part in the lynching that have not been prosecuted. From my knowledge of the public sentiment of the community, I feel warranted in saying that his early release would meet with the approval of the people of Duluth generally.

Yours respectfully,
O. J. Larson
OJL/M