Governor. Burnquist, J. A. A. Records. Subject Files (File 648c)
Download full document (pdf format)
Page 1
HTML Version of Text
St. Paul Minn.
August 5, 1'920.
The Honorable J. A. A. Burnquist
Governor of Minnesota
St. Paul Minn.
Sir:
In conformity
with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report of my
investigation of the facts surrounding the lynching of three negroes by rioters
in Duluth on the evening of June 15, 1920:
1. Duluth Minnesota is
governed by a commission form of government. The legislative and executive
authority is vested in a mayor and four commissioners, the duties of the mayor
and commissioners classified as:
Division of Public Affairs
Division of Finance
Division of Public Works
Division of Public Safety
Division of Public Utilities
There is under consideration in this
report only the Division of Public Safety. The mayor and commissioners are
elected by vote of the people, and commissioners are assigned to specific duties
in charge of a division of the city's administration by a vote of the
commissioners including the mayor, a total of five votes. Three votes of the
five are necessary to elect to assignment.
Commissioner W. F. Murnian was
duly elected by the people and assigned to the Division of Public Safety, and it
is presumed that upon entering his duties as a Commissioner, he took the oath
usually administered to city officials,--to uphold the Constitution of the
United States and the State of Minnesota; to enforce the laws of the State of
Minnesota and the ordinances and regulations of the City of Duluth. He is
charged with the organization, discipline and, efficiency of the police force;
is privileged to select a Chief of Police, but all other members of the police
force are selected by civil service examination.
2. Evidence submitted
during the investigation disclosed that on June 14th "The John Robinson Circus"
was exhibiting in Duluth at a place known as the "Circus Grounds" and that among
those who witnessed the evening performance was a Miss Irene Tusken, aged
eighteen, residing at 4836 West 6th Street, Duluth Minn. It is alleged that
about 9:30 p.m. several negroes assaulted and ravished the young woman named.
Six negroes were accused and subsequently arrested at Virginia during the day of
June 15th.
The story of the assault upon the young woman spread rapidly
and indignation ran high. Rumors were afloat in West Duluth as early as 3 p.m.
that the negroes would be lynched that night, and a policeman on duty overheard
plans for the lynching at Police Headquarters as early as 5 p.m., and according
to his statement, did not report the facts until 7 or 8 p.m. About 5:30 p.m.
several young men on a green truck travelled [sic] down West Superior Street,
the principal street in the city of Duluth, waving a rope and shouting to the
bystanders to join a "neck tie party” at Police Headquarters.#2.