South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-11-19
Joseph HiIIStrom Sent to Death
Despite Two Requests From
President That Case
he ReConSidereG.
NEW PLEA FAILS TO
MOVE PARDON BOARD
Telegram Arrives Early Friday
Morning Protesting Poets
InnOCenCe-FiVe Expert
Shots Are Executors.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 10.
Joseph Hillstrom, poet and philos-
opher, was shot TO death by a firing
squad today. He paid the penalty for
the murder of ]. G. Morrison, a
grocer, and his son on Jan. 10, 1914,
at exactly 7:41 mountain time.
To requests from PreS't Wilson that
HillStrom's case be reconsidered were
refused by Gov. Spry. Thousa uds OF
letters and kilograms begging Tor eN-
ecutive clemency were unheeded. hui
Strom's request, made early today
that he be not blindfolded when ne
faced the five guns of the firing squad,
was denied.
A hastily called session OF the par
don board this morning considered a
telegram from Seattle, Wash, stating
that a man named Dusky, had made
an affidavit that he was with Hill
strom on the night OF Jan. ID. 1914,
and that Hillstrom was innocent or
the double murder. The board de-
cided the telegram was merely an
attempt to delay the shooting OF the
condemned man.
HiIIstrom Innocent
Hillstrom was to have been executed
at o'clock but early today, many
hours after Gov. Spry refused Prest
Wilson'S request 10 grant Hilistrom a
reprieve, the state executive received
a telegram from Seattle signed Dusky,
the sender of which said he was with
HiIlstrom on the night when Morrison
was murdered and declared that Hill
strom was innocent.
Gov. Spry Immediately summoned
the board of pardons and 1t went into
session to decide whether the eleventh
hour evidence was sufficient to grant
another reprieve.
In the meantime, Hillstrom. in ig-
norance of the new plea, showed no
sign OF breaking down.
At $50 a m, a breakfast consist
ing of ham and eggs. buttered toast
and coffee was sent into the prisoner
and he ate heartily He then re-
quested that he be given some Eng
lish walnuts.
After breakfast HillstrOm sent
through a member of the. death
watch q request that he should not be
blindfolded when he was shot but this
request was denied.
Staggers to Chair.
Hillstrom went to his death before
FIVE expert riflemen in a state OF al
most total collapse. He staggered to
the chair in which he was to receive
the volley Of his eXecutioners and his
head dropped as he was strapped in.
At 7;41 the signal to fire was given
30 the riiemen, each OF whom was
paid $40 for his work. As the volley
rang out, Hillstrom fell forward
against the straps that bound him.
He was officially pronounced dead one
minute, twelve and two-fifths seconds
after the riflemen had fired.
Sheriff Corless arrived at the prison
in an automobile at 1902 o'clock, ac-
companied by five OF his regular dep
uties. One carried a sawed-Off shot
gun. Though the execution had been
set for o'clock, it was delayed until
the state board OF pardons could de-
eide whether Hillstrom should be
granted a reprieve as the result of
the dispatch from Seattle.
At 1888 o'clock Sheriff COrlesS was
notified that the state board of par
dons had decided that there was no
reason for interfering with the laws
course.
Death March Starts.
The death march began at 1881
o'clock. Warden Pratt and a guard
took the lead in the march from Hill
strom's cell. followed by two physi-
clans Then came Hillstrom with
deputy sheriff walking on either side
Of him
The death march was quickly end
ed and the execution followed. An
official statement issued at the prison
after the execution said that HILL
strom's death had passed off without
hitch and was most humane in
every particular"
1t was Hillstrom's choice that he
be executed by shooting. Under the
state law Of Utah. il is possible for
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