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Description
In this letter, dated January 18, 1919, from States Attorney for Cavalier County, North Dakota (ND) Gudmundur Grimson to ND Attorney General William Langer, Grimson provides a chronological account of the steps he took upon hearing the D** family's accusation that Hiram J. Stepp of Sarles, North Dakota had raped and impregnated their teenage daughter F******* in February 1918. Grimson describes his initial interviews in December 1918 with the D**s, Stepp, and Stepp's nephew Larry who was also a person of interest in the alleged crime, as well as the events that led to Judge Kneeshaw's dismissal of the case against Hiram J. Stepp. Grimson also provides his opinion on the veracity of F******* D**'s account of the alleged crime, his suspicion that Hiram J. Stepp induced his nephew to alter his account of events to raise doubt about the paternity of D**'s infant, and his inkling about the role of local rivalries in the accusations against the elder Stepp. Grimson also asserts that, despite what Langer had been told by someone familiar with the case, he did not side-step his duty as States Attorney, but rather gave the case due diligence and believes the Judge made the right call in dismissing it.
See also:
Statement of Ernest and Matilda D** Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, February 10, 1919
Letter From Attorney General Langer to W. J. Kneeshaw Regarding Complaints about Handling of State v. Stepp Case, February 14, 1919
Letter From Mr. and Mrs. E. L. D** to Attorney General Langer Regarding Mrs. Hiram Stepp Threatening Their Pregnant Daughter, February 10, 1919
Letter from Sarles, ND Village Marshal Alvah Phillebaum to Attorney General Langer, February 10, 1919
Letter from L. F. Hinegardner to Attorney General Langer Accompanying Statement from Mr. and Mrs. D**, February 10, 1919
Date of Work
1-18-1919
Keywords
State v. Stepp, F******* D**, H. J. Stepp, Larry Stepp, rape, Sarles, State v. Stepp
Organizations Referenced
Cavalier County
People Referenced
Ernest* D**, F******* D**, Matilda D**, F. L. Fancher, F. R. Hinkle, W. J. Kneeshaw, George McLean, Mr. Ogle, Hiram J. Stepp, Larry Stepp, R. E. Stepp
Disciplines
Political History | United States History
Recommended Citation
Grimson, Gudmunder, "Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, January 18, 1919" (1919). William Langer Papers. 286.
https://commons.und.edu/langer-papers/286
Comments
Please note that information related to the identification of the underage victim in this case has been redacted from the digital collection per library policy. The original documents are available to researchers at the Chester Fritz Special Collections Library.