The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-11-20
CLAIMED TO LAST
HIS INNOCENCE
Declined to See a Minister, Say
ing He Had Worked Out
His Own Religion.
FAMOUS CASE is AT A CLOSE
President Wilson's Appeal Was
in Vain-TeIegram Received
From Far-away Person Claim
ing He Knew Man Was
Innocent.
FAMOUS CASE is AT A CLOSE

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 19.-Jos-
eph Hillstrom was put to death by
firing squad in the state prison
here at 7:42 am. today His death
was instantaneous.
At six o'clock this mo hing Gov.
Spry and members of tn board of
pardons received telegra from
Seattle, Wash, saying thu. William
Busky of that city had torn to
affidavits saying that he rs with
Hillstrom all of the night G. which
the Morrison murders We . com
mtted and that Hillstrom W: inno-
cent. A simalir message, was
stated, had been sent to Pr lent
Wilson.
Attorneys for Hillstrom il 10
diately asked the governor to grant
a ten-day respite. Members of the
pardon board held hurried confer
ence and decided not to Interfere
with the execution
When the officers went for Hill
strOm he broke down and started to
struggle with them, but when he saw
the sheriff he became calm and
threw up his hands. Accompanied by
the officers he walked to the death
chair. After he was seated they ask
ed him if he had anything to say. He
said:
Gentlemen, | die with a clear
conscience. | never did anything
wrong in my life. | die fighting, not
like coward. Well, I'm gone, good
bye"
When the officer started to give
the command to fire, Hillstrom yell
ed, fire" The squad fired and the
bullets pierced his heart. He was
Ndead in one minute and ten seconds
.Hfter the volley was fired. Hillstrom
was convicted Of the murder of John
G. Morrison, a g4ocer, and his son,
Airing.
Under Utah law he was permitted
to choose between shooting and
hanging.
President Wilson twice appealed
for further respite for Hillstrom.
The Presidents second request. made
yesterday, was denied by Gov. Spry
as not based on any new facts.
Hillstrom spent last night in his
cell at the state prison under the
eyes of the death watch which was
Spry declined to grant President Will
sons request for reconsideration of
the case. Hillstrom declined to see
a minister, saying that he had work
ed out his own religion and was
satisfied with it and would not be
tired about 10 o'clock and went to
sleep at once.
Although he continued to protest
that he could prove his innocence if
granted a new trial. Hillstrom re.
manned silent about how he received
night Morrison, of whose murder he
was convicted, was shot and killed at
his grocery store in Salt Lac City.
Its nobody's business where I got
that wound" Hillstrom said "It is
only public curiosity that wants to
hHOM IlCI an liOI hStC " 81 dLlI y
public curiosity"
The industrial Workers of the
World, of which Hillstrom was a
member, held a meeting at their hall
and another in the streets last night
Attendance was not larger than usual
and the remarks of the speakers
were mild Hillstrom last night, ex
pressed a desire to wear dark suit
which had been under lock and key
with his other effects. Deputy War
i den IRE brought out the suit IN
Xkxamined it preparatory to having ii
"a eseed. He discovered the name
Morrison the name of the man
murdered, written in indelible ink on
the white lining of the suit. When
he reported to Hillstrom that he had
found a name in the suit Hillstrom
inquired whether. the name was