October 31, 1921. Hon. S. P. Freeling, Attorney General, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dear General:
The governor of Minnesota has under consideration the application of the governor of Oklahoma for the rendition of C. T. Smithie as a fugitive from the justice of your state. The accused is a black man under indictment in the Tulsa court for complicity in the race riots of May 31 and June 1 last. The accused requested a hearing before the governor, much testimony has been introducted and the case has attracted considerable attention. While upon a hearing of this kind the inquiry is ordinarily confined to the question whether the accused is a fugitive from the justice of the demanding state, yet in a case of this importance it frequently happens, as in this case, that a somewhat wider range is allowed. The accused claims, and has introduced some testimony in support of his claim, that he was at Kansas City at the time this offense is charged to have been committed. On the other hand the state has presented evidence which very sustantially weakens, if it does not completely overthrow, the claim of the accused in this regard. It was asserted by counsel for the accused upon the hearing, and some witnesses who claimed to know the situation were produced in support of the assertion, that a black man is unable to secure justice in the Oklahoma
Letter to S. P. Freeling, Attorney General, 1921 October 31, from James E. Markham, Assistant Attorney General, St. Paul, Minnesota, regarding fair trials for blacks accused of involvement in riot.
Letter James E. Markham to S. P. Freeling, Attorney General, 1921 October 31, Box 25, Record Group 1-2, State of Oklahoma vs. John A. Gustafson, Chief of Police Tulsa (Tulsa Race Riot Investigation Vice Condition); Civil Case No. 1062, Attorney General, Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries, Oklahoma City, OK
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Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/cdm4/rights.php
October 31, 1921. Hon. S. P. Freeling, Attorney General, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dear General:
The governor of Minnesota has under consideration the application of the governor of Oklahoma for the rendition of C. T. Smithie as a fugitive from the justice of your state. The accused is a black man under indictment in the Tulsa court for complicity in the race riots of May 31 and June 1 last. The accused requested a hearing before the governor, much testimony has been introducted and the case has attracted considerable attention. While upon a hearing of this kind the inquiry is ordinarily confined to the question whether the accused is a fugitive from the justice of the demanding state, yet in a case of this importance it frequently happens, as in this case, that a somewhat wider range is allowed. The accused claims, and has introduced some testimony in support of his claim, that he was at Kansas City at the time this offense is charged to have been committed. On the other hand the state has presented evidence which very sustantially weakens, if it does not completely overthrow, the claim of the accused in this regard. It was asserted by counsel for the accused upon the hearing, and some witnesses who claimed to know the situation were produced in support of the assertion, that a black man is unable to secure justice in the Oklahoma
Oklahoma State Archives Division, Oklahoma Department of Libraries. For further information regarding the rights to this collection, please visit www.crossroads.odl.state.ok.us/cdm4/rights.php
Identifier
001_Letter James E. Markham to S. P. Freeling, Attorney General, 1921 October 31; Page 1.tif