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DURING THE REEFER MADNESS ERA
THE WILLIE MAY HUNT CASE
Office of Sheriff
Sweetwater County
M.J. Dankowski, Sheriff
D. Ramsay, Deputy Sheriff
November 24th, 1940
Bureau of Narcotics,
Treasury Department,
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing a sample of WEED that was found in a house where a murder had been committed, the Negro that was shot to death had been smoking this said weed, I have checked where the weed was brought, and would like know just what kind of weed it is before making the arrest.
Yours truly.
M.J. Dankowski, Sheriff.
By: D. Ramsey, Deputy Sheriff.
November 26, 1940
E:MLH
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. MATCHETT:
This Bureau received today a communication dated November 24, 1940, fro Deputy Sheriff D. Ramsay, Rock Springs, Wyo. With which he enclosed a sample of weed which he states was found in a house where a murder had been committed. The Negro that was shot to death had allegedly been smoking this weed. He requested an analysis be made to determine what kind of weed this is.
It will be appreciated if you will examine the enclosed sample and advise the Bureau promptly of the result.
H.J. Anslinger
Commissioner of Narcotics
Treasury Department
Bureau of Narcotics
Washington
November 26, 1940.
Commissioner of Narcotics,
Washington, D.C.
Sir;
Re: Laboratory No. 12341
On November 26, 1940, you transmitted to the laboratory a sample of weed, received from Deputy Sheriff D. Ramsay, Rock Springs, Wyoming, which he states was found in a house where a murder had been committed. It was requested that an analysis be made to determine what kind of weed the sample is.
Examination of the sample shows it to be marihuana.
The sample is returned Herewith.
Yours truly,
Joseph Levine,
Chemist.
November 28, 1940
E:MLH
AIR MAIL
Mr. M.J. Dankowski,
Sheriff, Sweetwater County,
Rock Springs, Wyoming.
Atten: Mr. D. Ramsay, Deputy Sheriff
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your air mail letter of November 24, 1940, enclosing a sample of weed found in a house where a murder had been committed, and requesting to be advised what this material was.
This sample was examined in the Laboratory Division of this Department and the chemist advises that it is marihuana.
I am returning herewith the marihuana submitted by you.
Very truly yours,
H.J. Anslinger Commissioner of Narcotics
November 28, 1940
E:MLH
AIR MAIL
Mrs. Elizabeth Bass,
District Supervisor,
Denver, Colo.
Dear Mrs. Bass:
Please note the attached copies of a communication dated November 24, 1940, from the Sheriff’s office at Rock Springs, Wyo. Relative to the finding of marihuana in a house where a murder had been committed.
If you do not already have complete information on the point please ask Narcotic Agent Koehn to proceed to Rock Springs as soon as circumstances permit, to make an investigation as to the possible connection of marihuana with the crime committed in this case.
Very truly yours,
H.J. Anslinger
Commissioner
Salt Lake City, Utah.
December 10, 1940.
District Supervisor,
Denver, Colo.
Re: Rock Springs, Wyo.
Pursuant to instructions from the Bureau I proceeded to Rick Sorings, Wyo. Dec 9, 1940 and interviewed Dee Ramsay, Deputy sheriff, C.L. Hamilton, chief of Police and others relative to a murder which was committed at Rock Springs on November 21, 1940. I received the following information: --
Alonzo Hunt, Negro, age 50 was shot and killed in his home November 21, 1940 at 521, 5th St Rear., Rock Springs by his wife Willie May Hunt, age 35. She also shot Minnie Lee Harper, Negro, age 38, not seriously.
The officers found about one-fourth pound Marihuana in the house. Hunt is a no count Negro pimp, never worked, and his wife worked out some times during the day and worked as a prostitute at night, so did Minnie Lee Harper, who Hunt brought to the house. Mrs. Hunt had been drinking and had a quarrel(sic) with her husband as she was jeolous of the Harper woman, and this resulted in the shooting. Several witnesses were present.
The officers stated that neither Hunt or his wife used the Marihuana, but they used it to make cigarettes for Mexicans and white men who came to the house and had them smoke, to get them to spend their money or rob them when they went to sleep.
The officers learned that the Marihuana came from Joe Mestas a Mexican and that Hunt purchased a tobacco can of it for $1.00. Mestas admitted to the officers that he purchased it from Jimmie Smith a Cubian. The officers searched Jimmie Smith home and found about one pound of Marihuana. They could not learn when Smith obtained it. Smith admitted ownership and also that he made the sale to Joe Mestas.
Jimmie Smith had worked as a sheep hearder for 12 years in Idaho and the officers think that he got the Marihuana from some friend in Idaho.
The officers also found 3, ½ pint whiskey bottles and a pint of whiskey in the house, and stated that they all had been drinking. The officers say that no one acted liked they had smoked Marihuana, and from.
Page 2.
The facts surrounding the case they are of the opinion that neither Alonzo Hunt or his wife were using Marihuana in any form.
Joe Mestas and Jimmie Smith are in jail, and both have plead guilty of the Marihuana chagre(sic) at a preliminary hearing. They will also plead guilty before the Judge in county court and receive a six months jail sentence and be ordered out of the county.
Mrs. Hunt is in jail awaiting trial and she has hatched up a defense with here attorney that Hunt was under the influence of Marihuana and tried to assault her and she shot him in self defense. The officers expect to break this down by witness who were in the house most of the day, and convict her of the murder.
The Deputy Sheriff will destroy the Marihuana which he is holding as evidence after the case is disposed of.
The officers in Rock Springs assured me that this was the only Marihuana they have heard of in or around rock Springs for several years.
Andrew Koehn
Narcotic Agent
Office of Sheriff
Sweetwater County
M.J. Dankowski, Sheriff
D. Ramsay, Deputy Sheriff
February 25th, 1941
Andrew Koehn,
Chicago, Ill.,
Dear Sir:
As to your request on the Negro woman Mrs. Willie Mae Hunt, a jury of twelve men said not guilty.
Yours truly.
M.J. Dankowski, sheriff.
By: D. Ramsay, Deputy sheriff.
This is the case in which I submitted a report. Mrs. Willie Hunt stated that her husband was full of Marihuana and that he attacted(sic) her and she shot and killed him. According to the Sheriff Mrs. Hunt had not used and Marihuana.
Andrew Kochn
Narcotic Agent
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