Sunday, November 24, 2013

On This Date in Minnesota History: November 24

November 24, 1971 – Thomas J. Williams was acquitted of the first degree murder of Susan Poferl of Cloquet.1 She was strangled to death in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 21, 1971, after a night of drinking and dancing at the Cloquet Labor Temple. Her nude body was discovered on March 25 in the “icy waters of Otter Tail Creek along the Moorhead Road about three miles southwest of Cloquet. Authorities said the frozen body was discovered by a school bus driver” as he drove through the area.2   Poferl had danced with Williams that evening, and according to witnesses, had been seen with him the morning she disappeared. 

1
Duluth News-Tribune; “Williams Acquitted of Poferl Murder By Carlton Jurors”; November 25, 1971; p.1.

2Duluth News-Tribune; “Autopsy Slated Today on Body of Cloquet Girl”; March 26, 1971; pp. 1 & 11.




Cloquet Labor Temple

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain March 25, 2013,
as long as acknowledgement included.


Murder of Susan Poferl; see March 21, 2013 blog

Body of Susan Poferl discovered; see March 25, 2013 blog

Thomas Joseph Williams indicted for Poferl murder; see April 29, 2013 blog

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