MN MN - Albert Lea, WhtMale, Adult pre-40, UP77631, long hair, found in clock tower, gray pinstripe suit, black Oxford shoes, Jul'38

[lightofmine99]

Albert Lea John Doe (1938)
a.k.a "Clock Tower John Doe”
UP77631 (NU)

Freeborn Co. Courthouse, c.1940s. (X)​

Circumstances:
White male located in Freeborn County Court House Clock Tower by custodian on 07/05/1938. (per NamUs).

Spoiler: CASE INFORMATION

Case Numbers:

• NamUs: UP77631
• Doe Network: N/A
• ME/C: 1938

Overview:

• Location: Albert Lea, Minnesota. (Freeborn Co.)
• Date Body Found: July 5, 1938.
• NamUs Created: February 4, 2021.
• Tribal Land: N/A
• PMI: N/A
• State of Remains: Not recognizable.
  • Decomposing/putrefaction
• Cause of Death: N/A

Physical:

• Sex: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
• Age: Adult, pre-40.
  • 30-35 (NamUs).
• Height: 5' 7" (67 in.) est.
• Weight: CANNOT ESTIMATE
• Hair: Brown
  • Long with a “reddish tinge.”
• Eye: UNKNOWN

Identifiers:

• Dentals: UNKNOWN
• DNA: UNKNOWN
• Prints: UNKNOWN
• Marks / Features: N/A

Personal Effects:

• Clothing:
  • “High-quality” double breasted grey suit with a light pinstripe.
  • “Almost new” black rain coat.
  • Black Oxford shoes.
  • All laundry marks and manufacturer's labels on his clothing had been removed
• Jewelry: NONE
• Add'l Items:
  • Eyeglasses case.
  • The label on the eyeglasses case was removed.

Links:

• NamUs: UP77631 (ARCHIVE)
• Doe Network: N/A

Notes:
According to two news articles (linked below), the manner of death was suicide by hanging, but this is not specified on NamUs. One article (citing another article from 1938) indicates the coroner believed Clock Tower John Doe had been dead for “several weeks” before being found.

The “eyeglasses case” is reportedly the only item found on his person but it is not specified whether glasses were in the case.

As of February 6, 2025 there are no public exclusions on NamUs, but one of the articles states he was ruled out as being missing men named William Webber and George Russell at the time.

** This case is being investigated by the Freeborn Co. Sheriff Office.**​

 

[lightofmine99]

This article has direct quotations from an article covering the discovery in 1938:

“Is Freeborn County Courthouse Haunted?” (2009)

Is Freeborn County courthouse haunted? - Austin Daily Herald

The Freeborn County Courthouse will soon be the feature of a documentary that includes an investigation into paranormal activity.

www.austindailyherald.com

ARCHIVE (02/05/25)

The clock tower was removed in 1953 because of “structural problems.” Interestingly, the courthouse is supposedly haunted and a paranormal documentary was supposed to cover it. It looks like the production was either never released, never completed, or never began filming.

This history and genealogy blog cites multiple newspaper articles:

“On This Date in Minnesota History: July 5” (2016)

On This Date in Minnesota History: July 5

July 5, 1938 – Around 8 a.m., Bill Groteke, custodian of the Freeborn County Courthouse, climbed the stairs to the top of the tower to fix...

pjefamilyresearch.blogspot.com

ARCHIVE (02/06/25)

He was reportedly decomposed to the point his skin was “black."

 

[LadyL]

long hair on men would've been very unusual in 1938

 

[doublestop]

long hair on men would've been very unusual in 1938

What they might have considered long in 1938 may be different from what would be considered long now.

 

[LadyL]

What they might have considered long in 1938 may be different from what would be considered long now.

yeah I googled and nothing came up with long hair - the only thing I saw was a couple fashions that had somewhat longish bangs

 

[MadMcGoo]

UP77631 Unidentified Male 1938 MN

Clipping found in The Albert Lea Tribune published in Albert Lea, Minnesota on 7/5/1938. UP77631 Unidentified Male 1938 MN

www.newspapers.com

UP77631 Unidentified Male 1938 MN

Clipping found in The Ellendale Eagle published in Ellendale, Minnesota on 7/6/1938. UP77631 Unidentified Male 1938 MN

www.newspapers.com

 

[MadMcGoo]

It’s probably a long shot, but I found this 25-year-old man from Minneapolis who had moved to California in search of employment and was last heard from via letter in late 1937. Police in both Minnesota and California searched for him, but he was never found. He’s described as a fairly big guy, 5’11 and 240 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. What stood out to me was that he’s also said to have looked about 35 years old.

Could he have made his way back to his home state and took his life?

Louis S Feldman 1937 1938 MN CA

Clipping found in Oakland Tribune published in Oakland, California on 2/6/1938. Louis S Feldman 1937 1938 MN CA

www.newspapers.com