The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-11-19
CONVICTED MURDERER
DIED INSTANTLY
Executioners We're Behind
a Barricade and Were
Not Seen by the Con-
demned Man - Notorious
Case in Utah Had Sensa-
tional Chapter To-day

Salt Lake City, Nov. l9.-7Joseph Hill
strom, the condemned murderer whose
case attracted attention throughout the
country and prompted the intercession of
President Wilson, of the Swedish minis
ter to the United States and of the
American Federation of Labor, was put
to death by a firing squad at the state
prison at 7:42 this morning. Death was
instantaneous.
Under the Utah law Hillstrom was
Iallowed to choose between shooting and
hanging, choosing the former. The pris-
on physician placed paper target di-
lrectly over Hillstrom's heart and the
members of the firing squad, who had
chosen rifles by lot. stood behind bar
rieade hidden from the condemned mans
view.
/ Hillstrom himself gave the signal foI
his execution. He had been escorted to
the chai and the officer was about to
give tha signal when ITillstrom yelled
Fire" The squad iIred and the bullets
pierced his heart.
Although self lf-possessed when facing
I his executioners, Hillstrom had a sensa
tional collapse just previously He tied
his cell door with strips from blankets
and he fought the guards fiercely with
broom handle which he snatched from an
iattendant.
The History of the Case.
Hillstrom was convicted OF the murder
Of John G. Morrison, a grocer. Of Salt
Lake City, and his son, Airing, IL years
old, at Morrison's 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, IL years old. Ac-
cording 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 nowl" opened fire on
Morrison, who fell mortally wounded
with a bullet through his chest Arling
Morrison ran TO an ice box in the store
seized 3s-ealibre revolver and fred
Before the boy could shoot again. he fell
pierced by three bullets and died almost
instantly. The men then ran from the
store, one Of them exclaiming that he
was shot and were observed to run
southward from the store. The surviv-
ing son bent over his father. who became
unconscious after having inquired where
his assailants were. and died soon after
ward.
Hillstrom. also known a. Joe Hill. was
arrested three DAYS after the shooting
on information given by doctor near
Murray. Utah. two and half miles
south Of the scene Of the crime. Hill. /
strom staggered into the doctors home
two hours after the shooting with a
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 he said regarding his visit
or wound The doctor. not having heard
of TIE murders. treated the vsund and
took Hillstrofn 20 a house where he had
been stsyiug for several davs News NJ
the murders recalled the ease 10 the doc I
tor and BE- informed the officers The
doctor found an automatic pistol ~ the 4
same calihre a. shells found In the gro. 1
cery store after Tho shooting. IN Hili-
strom's pockct Hlistrom threw the
weapon away after leaving the dortor's 4
home. Blood was found 81 several plnces 4
hetween the store and The home ~ the I
doctor and members n The family where 7
Hiilstrom LIVED said cunnanion had /
visited him lsts the night ~ the murders
faIled privately with hifn and iefs. Tlis
man ras MT srpreisenfef and hss not
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