Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-19
HILLSTROM WILL
DIE TODAY, UTAH
GOVERNOR FIRM
Refuses Wilson's Request of Further
Postponement Of Execution Of
Industrial Worker of the
World.
INTERFERENCE UNwARRANTED'
State Official Asserts He Will Not
Lend Himself or Office to
Such Action.
DEATH WATCH IS IN EFFECT

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. IS.
Asserting his belief that further
postponement of the execution of
Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the
Indsutrial Workers of the World,
would be an unwarranted interfer-
ence with the coruse of justice. Gov
ernor William Spry telegraphed to
President Wilson this afternoon that
he cannot and will not lend himself
or his office to such interference.
The governors telegram was in
answer to one received yesterday
from the president requesting a re-
consideration of the case of Hill
strom, who was convicted of the
murder of j. G. Morrison, Salt
Lake City grocer, and Morrison's
son, January 10, 1914.
The presidents message was received
by the governor after resolutions adopted
by the convention of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor at San Francisco, asking
further consideration of the case had
been telegraphed to the president.
Concurred In by Hoard.
The governor had the presidents re-
,auest yesterday and until noon today.
His answer was submitted to the State
Board of Pardons today and was unani-
mously concurred in by them before IT
was sent to the president.
Governor Spry says in his telegram to
President Wilson, declining to interfere
further with the Hillstrom case that he
Is satisfied the presidents request is
based on a misconception of the facts or
that there is some reason of an interna-
tlonal nature that the president has not
disclosed.
Hillstrom had not been advised Of Gov
ernor Spry's action late today.
A death watch was placed over Hill
strom at the state prison this afternoon
and he will be shot to death tomorrow,
probably early In the day. The five men
appointed to execute him have been di-
reCted to report at the prison at o'clock
tomorrow morning. -'-
Review by Governor.
Reviewing the history of the case, and
particularly the presidents action In con-
nection with it, the governor says in his
telegram:
September 80 you requested a stay of
execution of the sentence to give the
Swedish minister an opportunity to pre-
sent his view OF the case. Upon the
same day, at your request only, on the
assumption that you were in possession
Of facts not presented to the board, l
granted a respit until october 16. es-
pecially requesting that the Swedish min
lister personally investigate the case and
appear before the board.
Under date of October 4, you advised
me that your only reason for lntercedlng
= was the request of the representative OF
foreign government. october l6, at the
regular meeting, an open hearing was
had in further consideration OF the caOe.
Hillstroms attorney advised the board
that there was nothing further to pre-
sent and that Hilstrom declined TO ap-
pear before the board again. The only
representation in the convicts behalf was
a short telegram from the Swedish min
lister requesting commutation of sentence
not by reason of any new thing in rtlts
tion to the case, but, as he expressed It.
for the sake of humanity and comfy
usually practiced between friendly ma
tions. Because OF the absence OF aIS'
slowing, the board terminated the re-
spite and again denied Communication.
Convict Resentenced.
The convict thereupon was. on the
eighteenth day fOctober resentenced by
the court to be shot ,ovember 10. Forty
six days after the granting Of the re-
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