William Langer graduated from UND in 1906 and had a long career in politics. He was North Dakota Attorney General from 1917 until 1920 and served twice as Governor: from 1933 to 1934 and from 1937 until 1939. Elected to the United States Senate in 1941, he served until his death in 1959.
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Letter from J. H. Newton to William Langer Regarding Order to Grant New Trial in State v. Stepp Case, June 16, 1920
J. H. Newton
In this letter, dated June 16, 1920, from J. H. Newton, Clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court, to ND Attorney General William Langer, Newton informs Langer that on that same day an order by the District Court of Cavalier County in the case of State v. Stepp was reversed and a new trial for the case was granted.
He adds that the defeated party has 20 days from the day of the order to file six copies of petition for rehearing.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 25, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets writes that he is pleased to hear that Traynor was satisfied with the Court's decision on the motion presented by Traynor to dismiss Hiram Stepp's appeal. Sheets also notifies Traynor that despite some confusion due to a misprinted date, the opposing briefs arrived on time.
See also:
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 15, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to attorney Fred J. Traynor, who is representing F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets informs Traynor that Judge Nuchols had to leave for Philadelphia and Sheets himself will be presenting the motion for dismissal of Hiram Stepp's appeal. Sheets explains that, while he will present the motion, he is of the opinion that the case should not be dismissed, and gives his reasons.
Note: In this letter, Sheets references a letter from Traynor to S. L. Nuchols dated May 10, 1920 in which Traynor informs Nuchols of a second proposal to dismiss Stepp's appeal. No copy of this letter has been found in Langer's papers as of this writing.
See also:
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding the Clerk's Notice Letter for State v. Stepp, June 1, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 1, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets explains to Traynor that his stenographer failed to enclose the notice letter from the Clerk of the Supreme Court that Sheets had mentioned in his letter of May 25, 1920. Sheets writes that he is enclosing the letter in this mailing.
Sheets also informs Traynor that, because the Court is up to date on their calendar, the case of State v. Stepp will be brought to trial shortly after the respondent's briefs are filed.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to O'Conner and Johnson Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp Case, May 15, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated May 15, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to attorneys O'Conner and Johnson, who are representing Hiram Stepp in the State v. Stepp case before the ND Supreme Court, Sheets refers to an enclosed a copy of the State's argument concerning the proposed motion to dismiss Stepp's appeal.
The enclosed argument was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to S. L. Nuchols Regarding State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding New Trial for State v. Stepp Case, June 18, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 18, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to Fred. J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, Sheet informs Traynor of his discovery that the Supreme Court had already ruled to reverse the lower court's ruling in the State v. Stepp case and send the case back for a new trial.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated June 29, 1920, from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case, Sheets writes that he is enclosing a notice he has received from the clerk of the North Dakota Supreme Court, "in compliance with request I received from you some time ago."
The notice Sheets refers to as being enclosed was not found with this letter in the Langer Collection.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Wording of Supreme Court Decision in State v. Stepp Case, July 22, 1920
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Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Wording of Supreme Court Decision in State v. Stepp Case, July 22, 1920
Albert E. Sheets Jr.
In this letter, dated July 22, 1920, from North Dakota Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D**' in the State v. Stepp case, Sheets discusses details of the trial and the court's decision to have the case retried, and says he would be glad to write to the Court on Traynor's behalf to ask that the word "misconduct" be removed from the rationale for the retrial.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Jr. Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 28, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated May 28, 1920, from Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, to ND Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Traynor writes that he doesn't understand Sheets's reference to a misprinted date in Sheets's letter of May 25. Traynor adds that he has not received word of a due date for filing briefs or a notice of when the hearings will take place in the State v. Stepp case, but that the briefs are being printed and should be with the clerk in a few days. He asks Sheets to notify him as soon as he recieves notice of when the hearing will take place.
See also:
Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets, Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding the Clerk's Notice Letter for State v. Stepp, June 1, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding Retrial of State v. Stepp Case, June 19, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated June 19, 1920, from Fred J. Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case, to North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Albert E. Sheets, Traynor informs Sheets that he has received a copy of the Supreme Court's decision on State v. Stepp and that he is not surprised by their decision and has no criticism of the ruling.
Traynor makes reference to the use of the word "misconduct" in the written opinion to describe what Traynor writes was unwitting error he made in the trial, and asks Sheets to talk to Clerk of Court J. H. Newton regarding whether it would be "considered proper" for Traynor to write to the members of the Supreme Court requesting that they remove the word "misconduct" from their characterization of the reasons for ordering a new trial, as he feels it implies willful wrongdoing, whereas the error he made, while admittedly prejudicial, was unwitting and unintentional.
See also:
Letter from J. H. Newton to William Langer Regarding Order to Grant New Trial in State v. Stepp Case, June 16, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets to Fred J. Traynor Regarding State v. Stepp Case, June 29, 1920
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Letter from Fred J. Traynor to Albert E. Sheets Regarding State v. Stepp Case, May 22, 1920
Fred J. Traynor
In this letter, dated May 22, 1920, from Fred Traynor, attorney for F******* D** in the State v. Stepp case before the North Dakota (ND) Supreme Court, to Albert E. Sheets, North Dakota Assistant Attorney General, Traynor thanks Sheets for his letters regarding the case and congratulates him on the order made by the North Dakota Supreme Court. Traynor writes that he has no doubt that Stepp's lawyers will file their papers by the appropriate date and he is therefore preparing a brief on the merits of the case.
See also:
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
Letter from Clerk of ND Supreme Court J. H. Newton to Attorney General Langer Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp Case, May 17, 1920
Letter from Albert Sheets to Fred Traynor Regarding Court Minutes in State v. Stepp Case, May 19, 1920
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Misprinted Date on State v. Stepp Court Briefs, May 25, 1920
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Letter from H. J. Baird to Attorney General Langer Regarding Illegal Activities in Wishek, Dawson and Other Towns, September 22, 1919
H j. Baird
In this letter, dated September 22, 1919, handwritten on Ashley Hotel stationery, from H. J. Baird to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, Baird reports on tobacco and alcohol sales and other illegal activities in Wishek, Burnstad, Napoleon (misspelled as "Neapoealin") Dawson and Ashley, ND. Baird says he was unable to find the still north of Napoleon without putting a good deal of time into it, and describes poker games in Ashley played for matches that are then cashed in. He also tells of two men in town from St. Paul to organize a bank.
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Letter from Assistant Attorney General Cox to Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 22, 1919
Cox Mr.
Letter dated December 22, 1919 from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Edward Cox to Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen in response to Plomasen's letter of December 18, 1919 to William Langer regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case. Cox writes that he has spoken with all parties and that Mr. Skrukrud will plead guilty and that Attorney Dawson will enter this plea with Judge Crawford soon. Cox also notes that he does not view any complaints about Dawson or his office are justified and that everyone is doing their jobs proficiently.
See also:
Letter from John F. Sullivan to Assistant Attorney General Cox Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, October 18, 1919
Letter from Assistant Attorney General Cox to John F. Sullivan Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, October 22, 1919
Letter from Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen to Attorney General Langer Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 18, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 20, 1919
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Letter from Assistant Attorney General Cox to John F. Sullivan Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, October 22, 1919
Cox Mr.
Letter, dated October 22, 1919 from North Dakota (ND) Assistant Attorney General Cox to Mandan Attorney John F. Sullivan in response to Sullivan's letter of October 18, 1919 regarding the Ole Skrukrud case. Cox writes that he has spoken to State's Attorney Dawson, and the latter is also fine with waiving the preliminary examination and that Sullivan and Cox can go over an outline of the case together in Bismarck in the next week to ten days.
See also:
Letter from John F. Sullivan to Assistant Attorney General Cox Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, October 18, 1919
Letter from Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen to Attorney General Langer Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 18, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 20, 1919
Letter from Assistant Attorney General Cox to Beach Police Magistrate Thor G. Plomasen Regarding the Ole Skrukrud Case, December 22, 1919
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Letter from E. L. D** to Attorney General Langer Regarding State v. Stepp, April 16, 1919
E. L. D**
In this letter, dated April 16, 1919, from E. L. D**, father of the complainant in the State v. Stepp statutory rape case, to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer, D** refers to a letter he is enclosing from Devils Lake attorney Fred J. Traynor (misspelled here as "Trainor"). D** writes that if Langer would come and represent his daughter, D** would "drop all other special counsel."
See also:
Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, January 18, 1919
Statement of Ernest and Matilda D** Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, February 10, 1919
Letter from Albert E. Sheets Jr. to Fred J. Traynor Regarding Motion to Dismiss Appeal in State v. Stepp, May 15, 1920
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Letter from Mr. and Mrs. E. L. D** to Attorney General Langer Regarding Mrs. Hiram Stepp Threatening Their Pregnant Daughter, February 10, 1919
E. L. D** and Mrs. E. L. D**
In this letter, dated February 10, 1919, from Mr. and Mrs E. L. D** to North Dakota Attorney General William Langer Mr. and Mrs. D** report that Mrs. Hiram Stepp, knowing about the pregnancy of their daughter, threatened the daughter with "an awful beating" if she told her mother of her pregnancy, and wanted to "spirit" her away, promising her a home with them somewhere else.
Mr. and Mrs D** also make reference to the likelihood of getting "good evidence against Hiram Stepp on account of what he tried to do to to our younger daughter also who is only ten."
See also:
Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, January 18, 1919
Statement of Ernest and Matilda D** Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, 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
Letter from E. L. D** to Attorney General Langer Regarding State v. Stepp, April 16, 1919
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Statement of Ernest and Matilda D** Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, February 10, 1919
Ernest D** and Matilda D**
This document, dated February 10, 1919, is described as "statements by Mr. and Mrs. D**" regarding the initial proceedings in the case against Hiram J. Stepp, whom the D**s accused of raping their daughter and fathering her child. It was sent to Attorney General Langer by Luther Frank Hinegardner - a blacksmith in Sarles, North Dakota, who had previously visited Langer in person about the Stepp case. The statement describes how F******* D** was put under oath in front of her mother Matilda D**, States Attorney Gudmundur Grimson, Director of the Fargo Children's Home F. R. Hinkle, Judge W. J. Kneeshaw, Larry Stepp, and his father R. E. Stepp. She was asked about her relationship with Larry Stepp, but not his uncle Hiram J. Stepp. Hinkle and Judge Kneeshaw advised the D**s to settle out of court. Hinkle produced the money for the financial settlement and gave it to Ernest D**. Larry Stepp was turned over to Mr. Folley, the juvenile probation officer. Hiram J. Stepp was brought in and the case against him was dismissed. F******* D** later stated that Hiram J. Stepp was the first man with whom she had intercourse at age 14.
See also:
Letter from G. Grimson to Attorney General Langer Regarding Initial Proceedings in Stepp Case, January 18, 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
Letter from E. L. D** to Attorney General Langer Regarding State v. Stepp, April 16, 1919
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Telegram from G. A. D** to Attorney General Langer Asking to Have Hiram Stepp Detained, February 25, 1919
G. A. D**
In this telegram, dated February 25, 1919, from Sarles, North Dakota (ND) resident G.A. D** to ND Attorney General William Langer, D** asks Langer to telegraph Cavalier County, ND State's Attorney G. Grimson to have Hiram Steppe detained.
See also:
Letter from L. F. Hinegardner to Attorney General Langer regarding the Stepp Case, February 24, 1919
Telegram from Attorney General Langer to G. A. D** Regarding Stepp Case, February 25, 1919
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"A Plea to the Public and the Taxpayers of North Dakota for Justice" by Dr. T. H. Druen, Undated
T.H. Druen
In this undated statement, Dr. T. H. Druen, an inmate at the North Dakota State Penitentiary, claims he is innocent of the murder of his young daughter and is the subject of a conspiracy hatched by George Ryerson, States Attorney for Renville County. Druen further alleges that he did not receive a fair trial from Judge Alexander Burr.
See also:
Letter from P. B. Rognli to Attorney General Langer Regarding T. H. Druen, November 7, 1919
Letter from F. E. Packard for Attorney General Langer to P. B. Rognli Regarding T. H. Druen, November 10, 1919
Letter From Attorney General Langer to P. B. Rognli Regarding T. H. Druen, November 12, 1919
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Letter from Lewis Easton to Attorney General Langer Regarding Tax on Movie Theaters, Laws Pertaining to Hunting with Dogs, August 22, 1919
Lewis Easton
In this letter, dated August 22, 1919, from Lewis Easton of Buffalo, North Dakota (ND), to ND Attorney General William Langer, Easton explains that he has contacted Langer's office requesting an application for paying state tax on his theater in Buffalo, but has heard nothing, so he is now contacting Langer personally to attend to the matter.
Easton adds that, as Justice of the Peace, he is often asked about about laws regarding hunting with dogs, and would like Langer to advise him on that as well.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Lewis Easton Regarding Tax on Movie Theaters, August 23, 1919
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. L. D** Regarding Denial of Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Attorney General
In this letter, dated September 23, 1919, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to Ernest L. D**, Langer explains that his office filed a motion to dismiss the case of State v. Stepp because, "we thought they were fooling along too much." Langer refers to an attached copy of an affadavit, as well as a letter from a clerk of the ND Supreme Court indicating the dismissal motion had been denied. Langer writes that his office is doing everything it can to expedite the case.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Hinegardner Regarding Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to S. L. Nuchols Regarding State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to Hinegardner Regarding Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Attorney General
In this letter, dated September 23, 1919, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to L. H. Hinegardner, of Sarles, ND, Langer explains that his office filed a motion to dismiss the case of State vs. Stepp because, he says, "we thought they were fooling along too much." Langer references an enclosed copy of the affidavit, and assures Hinegardner that his office is doing everything they can to expedite the case. He also makes reference to a letter from Clerk of Court, North Dakota Supreme Court, indicating that the dismissal motion was denied.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. L. D** Regarding Denial of Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to S. L. Nuchols Regarding State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to L. F. Hinegardner Regarding State v. Stepp Case, October 2, 1919
Attorney General
In this letter, dated October 2, 1919, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to Sarles, ND resident L.F. Hinegardner, Langer acknowledges Hinegardner's letter of September 29, and pledges to contact S. L. Nuchols, and to do everything possible to get the State vs. Stepp case before the Supreme Court at the earliest date possible. He adds that he will ask Nuchols to contact him as well.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Hinegardner Regarding Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to S. L. Nuchols Regarding State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Attorney General
In this letter, dated September 23, 1919, from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to Attorney S. L. Nuchols, Langer replies to a request from Nuchols for a copy of the affidavit in the case of State vs. Stepp. Langer writes that the affadavit is enclosed.
The affidavit references as enclosed was not found with this letter in Langer's papers.
See also:
Letter from Attorney General Langer to E. L. D** Regarding Denial of Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, September 23, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to Hinegardner Regarding Motion to Dismiss in State v. Stepp Case, December 23, 1919
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Letter from Attorney General Langer to G. Grimson Regarding Stepp Case, February 25, 1919
Grimson
In this letter from North Dakota (ND) Attorney General William Langer to Cavalier County, ND State's Attorney G. Grimson, Langer refers to the case of Hiram Stepp, who was accused of statutory rape, writing that, given both Judge W. J. Kneeshaw's and Grimson's satisfaction with the way the case was handled, he knows of nothing he can do legally for plaintiffs Mrs. D** and her daughter, and views the case as terminated.
See also:
Telegram from G. A. D** to Attorney General Langer Asking to Have Hiram Stepp Detained, February 25, 1919
Letter from Attorney General Langer to G. Grimson Regarding Stepp Case, February 24, 1919