Duluth Lyncher Convicted.
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DULUTH LYNCHER CONVICTED
John
Stephenson, First of
the Nineteen Alleged Mob
Leaders Guilty of
Rioting
Duluth, Sept. 2.–(Special.)–Henry Stephenson, 34-year-old truck
driver, said to be one of the leaders of the mob which on the night of June 15
stormed the city jail and lynched three negroes, today was convicted by a jury
in district court on a charge of rioting in connection with lynching. The jury
deliberated 55 minutes. Minnesota has a statute which provides a maximum penalty
of five years for rioting.
Stephenson is one of the 19 who are indicted on a
similar charge in connection with the lynching, the trials being in progress in
all four branches of district court. Thirteen Negroes have also been indicted,
held on an assault charge which prompted the lynching. Stephenson with others
faces a second indictment, that of murder in the first degree.
That a
conviction in connection with lynchings is unusual is regarded here as clearing
in a measure the sting which Duluth received as a result of mob rule which
prevailed on the night of June 15. It prompted Mason M. Forbes, assistant county
attorney in charge of the prosecution to issue a statement tonight that the
other cases would be prosecute vigorously. Warren E. Greene, county attorney,
who investigated all the cases, stated that he believed more than half of those
indicted would meet the same fate as Stephenson.