The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-11-26
H|LLSTRON PAYS
PENALTY FOR CRIME
CONVICTED MURDERER OF SALT
LAKE GROCER AND HIS SON
EXECUTED AT PRISON.
Final Efforts 10 Secure Stay Of Exc
cution Prove Futile and Con-
demnsd Man Faces Firing Squad
After Night Spent in Sleep.

After Night spent IN Sieep'
salt Lake City.--Joseph Hills-rom,
convicted of the murder OF ]. G. Nor
rison and his son j. Airing, January
10, 1914, was executed at the state
prison Friday morning
Hiilstrom was sentenced to be shot
on September A, 1914, but delay OF
the date OF execution was secured ana
he was resentenced to be executed on
October l, 1915. At the request OF
President Wilson, in compliance with
request OF the Swedish minister,
Governor Spry granted respite IN
til the board OF pardons could con
slider the case.
The board of pardons considered
the appeal for c,emency and denied
it, and on October Is, Hillstrom was
again sentenced to be shot on Novem-
Der 19. Another request for elem
ency came from President Wilson two
days before the execution. asking for
clemency. Declaring that his oDilgar
tions 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 Oh
Joseph Hillstrom, convicted mur-
ierer, Gov. William Spry, after care
full consideration Of President Val
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 =
sore throat. His voice was huIy.
A message received by Governor
Spry at $50 Friday morning caused
che 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 Hill
strom, when asked IL he knew Busky.
denied he knew Of such man. This
,ecided the governor to order the ex-
scution without delay.
Joseph Hillstrom was convicted OF
he murder of John G. Morrison, q
grocer, and his son, j. Airing. II
zears old, at Morrisons store in the
southern portion of the city about
O'clock on the evening OF January 10,
1914
The shooting was witnessed by
Merlin Morrison, another son, IA
5ears old. According to this bcy's
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 mortally wounded with
a bullet thrugh his chest. ]. Airing
Morrison ran to an ice box In the
store, seized .3S-calibre revolver
and fired. Before the boy could shoot
again, he fell, pierced by three out-
let's and died almost instantly
Hillstrom, also known az 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 a large bullet wound
through his left lung. He tod the
doctor he had been shot in q quarrel
over a woman and requested that
nothing be said regarding his visit
&ntt 80 m{ n =