Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1915-11-26
A|LLSTROM PAYS
PENALTY FOR CRIME
CONVICTED MURDERER OF SALT
LAKE GROCER AND HIS SON
EXECUTED AT PRISON.
Final Efforts to Secure Stay Of Exc
eution Prove Futile and Con-
demnsd Man Faces Firing Squad
After Night Spent In sleep.

Salt Lake City.--Joseph Hillstrom,
convicted of the murder OF J. @. Nor
rison and his son J. Airing, January
TO- 1914 was executed at the state
prison Friday morning.
Hillstrom was sentenced to be shot
on September 4, 1914. but delay OF
the date of execution was secured and
he was resentenced to be executed on
October l., 1915. At the request OF
President Wilson, In compliance with
a request OF the Swedish minister,
Governor Spry granted a respite un.
til the board of pardons could con
slider the case
The board of pardons considered
the appeal for clemency and denied
IL, and on October IS, Hillstrom was
again sentenced to be shot on Novem'
Der 10. Another request for elem
ency came from President Wilson two
days before the execution, asking for
clemency. Declaring that his obliga.
lions as chief executive OF the com.
monwealth of Utah, and his oath as
governor to enforce the laws of the
state, precluded his interference with
the courts order for the execution OF
Joseph Hillstrom, convicted muir
derer, Gov. William Spry, after care
full consideration OF President VIII.
sons request, declined to act on the
appeal OF the nations chief for re.
consideration Of the Hillstrom case.
Hillstrom went to the death chair
without faltering. He preserved the
same calm demeanor that has been
characteristic of him since he was
first arrested.
During the greater part of his last
night on earth Hillstrom slept sound
ly. When he awakened he said he
felt well, with the exception of a
sore throat His voice was husky.
A message received by Governor
Spry at $3.50 Friday morning caused
the governor to get into touch with
members OF the board of pardons
The message was from Judge Hilton
OF Denver and said William Busky OF
Seattle had made affidavit that he
was with Hillstrom on the night of
the murder. Hilton asked for re-
spite Of ten days to investigate. Hhl
strom, when asked II he knew Busky
denied he knew OF such a man. Thu
decided the governor to order the ex
ecution without delay.
Joseph Hillstrom was convicted OF
the murder OF John c. Morrison, o
grocer, and his son, J. Airing, II
years old, at Morrison's store in the
southern portion Of the city about 9
~ hA In ~
1914.
The shooting was witnessed by
Merlin Morrison, another son, IA
years old. According to this boys
story, which was corroborated on
many points by other evidence, two
masked men entered the store with
drawn pistols. and saying; We've
got you now!" opened fire on Morri
son, who fell MORALLY wounded with
bullet thrugh his chest. j. Airing
Morrison ran to an ice box in the
store, seized .3S-calibre revolver
and fred. Before the boy could shoot
again. he fell. pierced by three bull
let's and died almost Instantly
Hillstrom, also known as Joe Hill,
was arrested three days after the
shooting on information given by DR..
A. A. Bird. Hillstrom staggered into
the doctors home two hours after the
shooting, with large bullet wound
through his left lung. He told the
doctor he had been shot In a quarrel
over a woman and requested that
nothing be said regarding his visit
or wound. The doctor, not having
heard of the murders, treated the
wound and took Hillstrom to the
house OF the Eselius brothers in Muir
ray. where he had been spending sew.
eral days. Accounts of the murders
recalled the case to the doctor and
he informed the officers.
The doctor noticed an automatic
pistol, of the same calibre as shells
found in the grocery after the shoot.
ing, in Hillstrom's pocket. Hillstrom
threw the weapon away after leaving
the doctors home. Blood was found
at several places in a general south
erly direction from the store, and
members OF the Eselius family said a
companion had visited him late the
night OF the murders, talked private
ly with him and left. This man was
not apprehended and has not been
heard of since. The sheriff's office
said 1t was Otto Applequist, who had
for some time been Hillstroms com.
panion.
Another Ship Strikes Mine.