The Washington herald., 1915-12-12


woman on the night or
the murder. l won't tell who she was. 1
will never tell who she was. l will die
rather than ruin her good name"
This was his story: It was all he would
say. Friends begged him to tell the whole
tale. The court urged that he disclose
facts to clear himself IL he could do So
But he refused. So the jury found him
guilty aud he was sentenced to pay for
his crime with his life on October l.
As the date of execution drew near.
the country began to sway to the justice
or injustice OF it. /. w. w. leaders ap-
pealed personally to Governor Spry. Of
Utah; thousands Of letters poured In
urging Communication of sentence: some
letters carried threats; there were In
timations that the prison might be
stormed, so double guards were placed
inside and extra men outside the grim
walls. The board of pardons took up
the case, but decided not to interfere
with the sentence of the trial court. Pre-
viously the supreme court Of Utah had
refused to order q new trial. However.
each reverse seemed to make sympathiz-
ers the more determined. Acting on tho
request of the Swedish minister at Wash
ington, the state department pleaded
with Utah authorities to no avail; then
the Swedish minister appealed direct to
Governor Spry, and his appeal was re-
fused. Then was sent cablegram to
Mayor Lindhagen. of Stockholm, asking
him to carry the appeal to the King Of
Sweden SO that a stay Of execution might
be demanded through the United States
government: While the cable was speed
ing on its way over the ocean, It became
known that the governor and other state
officials OF Utah were being guarded
night and day against attack. In the
whirl of excitement that resulted the
board Of pardons sent word to Hillstrom
that a pardon would be granted II he
would tell his story and II 1t could be
substantiated. The board informed him
that II he would tell the name of the
woman referred to 1t would grant q stay
Of execution. Some members Of the board
even went so far as to promise Hillstrom
unconditional pardon IL he would give
his attorneys and the warden the name
of the man who he claimed had shot
him, the name Of the woman and infor-
nation relative to the place and cir
cumstances Of the shooting SO there
could be an investigation. But he wished
to die a martyr. he said.
Then President Wilson telegraphed
Governor Spry, asking for stay Of execu-
tion. So as a favor to the President, the
governor issued a reprieve and the fight
to save the condemned man began anew.
But now Hillstrom refused pardon; he
asked for a new trial or death. It was
not in the power of the pardons board to
give him a new trial. and he wouldn't tell
his story.
A heavy curtain was hung over the
blacksmith shop in the prison yard at
Salt Lake City. Five holes were cut in
the curtain staring holes, repelling. sin
ieto ho in hoa
oak chair. fitted with leather straps.
Early in the morning a tall man who
walked with a long, swinging stride was
led through the door of the death cell
and across the prison yard to the chair.
Deputies walked beside him; doctor
followed. They walked slowly, solemnly.
in dead silence. Thirty-three men stood
about the walls.
They placed him in the chair and
bound band round his eyes. Then
they pinned a white square over his
heart. The leather straps were buckled
and drawn tight about his legs and arms.
The doctor put his ear to . the white
square. It rose and fell jerkily. The
man in the chair squared his shoulders
and ran his tongue across his lips.
The voice Of the sheriff called across
'ne AIM" AIM
The muZZleS OF hve guns poked
through the holes in the curtain.
Hysteria seized the doomed man. He
shouted Fire"
Fire."
Five rifles spoke. The body sagged
down in the chair. then Strengthened out
stiffly and the head rolled on the shoulder.
The doctor placed stethoscope over the
square OF white, pierced by four clean
rents. While a minute hurried away he
listened. then he raised his hand. Joe
Hiilstrom was dead. And all over the
country there was mourning.
Did chivalry send him through the
days in prison and lead him to his death?
was he trying to shield q woman, guilty
though she might be, from disgrace In
the eyes Of the world? Wouldn't a wom-
an who could inspire such loyalty and de-
votion be likely to step forward to save
the life, regardless Of consequences to
herself?
Or was he only adventuring. willing to
accept what adventure brought him, and
was the, romantic tale he told a part of
1t allf