The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-19
|. W. W. LEADER SHOT

IContinued from Page Ope.I
shooting and hanging, today's execu-
ton was the most dramatic in the his
tory of the state.
Hillstrom died game to the very last.
Sheriff Corless had barely cried
"Aimi" to the riflemen behind a door
twenty PAGES from Hillstrom's heart.
than HillStrom mockingly cried:
Fire! Let'r CO.
Government Couldn't Save Hin.
Shot through the heart while blind
folded and strapped in a chair, Joe
Hillstrom, young L w, w, mem Der,
convicted of numbering two men here
for robbery in January, 1914, was
legally executed by the state today.
The pleading of the Swedish govern
ment and President Wilson's inter-
cession on two occasions failed to
save HillStrom.
Hillstrom's unsupported defense
that he was elsewhere at a married
woman's house on the night the two
men were murdered was disregarded
by the authorities. He went to his
death with the woman's name, if true,
his own secret. She did not come for
ward to save him.
Hillstrom was pronounced dead
within one minute and thirteen Sec
onds after he was shot at 7:42 a. m.
The doctors pronounced the execu
ton most humane" and obviously
superior to hanging" HillStrom him
self chose to be shot by firing squad
lnSlcd0 VI OS1ilS Oll bIiC SSeA1AOld- liz
Utah law gives a condemned man his
choice.
In Insane Frenzy.
HilIstrom went to his death fight
ing in an insane frenzy. In some un-
known manner he had concealed a
broom handle in his cell.
When the door of the death cell
was opened, Hillstrom leaped upon
his guards, swinging his club furious
ly on their heads, severely cutting one
about the scalp and face.
The guards leaped upon him and
overpowered him almost in a twink
ling.
Up to the moment he came out of
the cell, he had not shown a sign of
resisting and his assault took the Of
ficers completely by surprise.
Not Like a Coward"
I'll die fightins-not like cow
ard he cried, and continued to
scream while the guards pinioned his
arms to his sides.
They urged him to be quiet and
take his medicine like a man and
when further resistance was useless
Hillstrom settled down.
Now, 1 can die with a clear con-
SCIENCE he said.
The march to the firing squad was
then commenced. Warden Arthur
Pratt and a deputy led the line. Two
physicians followed and then Hill
strom between two deputy sheriffs.
H1llStrOnl eyes were not
folded until he had been taken into
the prison yard. 1t was his wish to
face the firing squad with open eyes
but a thick heavy band OF cloth was
placed tightly across his eyes and
around his head.
Hillstrom walked with long swing
ing stride.
When he arrived opposite the door
of the prison blacksmith shop, behind
which the five riflemen were station
ed, the thirty-three witness already
were in their places.
Tried to Remove Blindfold.
Hillstrom tried to remove his blind
fold but was prevented by straps that
had been placed around his arms and
shoulders.
He was led to a big congress chair,
about twenty PAGES from the five holes
in the blacksmith shop door.
The guards quickly showed him into
'iSe chair and buckled more straps
bout his legs and arms, rendering
aim helpless in the chair.
Hillstrom Strengthened up and mois-
tened his lips with his tongue.
Target Over Heart.
Physicians found on examination
that his heart was pumping vigorous
w. They pinned a little white target
against the dark shirt the doomed
Sheriff Corless shouted: "Aim."
Five rifles were thrust out of the holes
in the door.
Fire! Let 'er CO." shrieked Hill
strom mockingly. He was sullenly
grinning-a horrible death grin it