The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-19
HILLSTROM TO DIE,
SPRY TELLS WILSON
IN CAUSTIC ANSWER
DictatiOn Of White House in
Noted Case AffrOnts Utah
Governor.
FLAT REFUSAL BY WIRE
TO FINAL CLEMENCY PLEA

WAsHrNGroN, Nov. 1S.-Joseph Hill
who Is to be shot at sunrise
for a murder in Utah and
whose case has stirred deep feeling In
]. w. W. n other circles, seems to
a v lost his last hope.
Gov. Spry of Utah has sent a tele-
Rram'to President Wilson showing keen
resentment over the Presidents partici-
In the case. inc refuses TO grant
his request for a respite. The telegram
reads as follows:
The President. Washington, d. C..
In June. 1914. Joseph Hillstrom
was convicted OF the murder Of j. q.
Morrison. he Jury having failed to
recommend life imprisonment under
the statute. He was sentenced by h
court to suffer death In July, 1916.
h Judgment Of conviction was
affirmed by the Supreme Court and
Hillstrom resentenced to be shot Oc-
tober !. September IS, the board Of
pardons heard and denied his appli.
cation for communication. September 80
o requested a stay Of execution Of
sentence to give the Swedish Minister
an opportunity to present his view Of
the case. Upon the same day. at
your. request only, and on the assump-
ton that you were in possession OF
facts not presented to the board, I
granted a respite until October Is.
the date of ne regular meeting Of the
board, especially requesting that the
Swedish Minister personally investi-
gate the case and appear before the
board.
Intercession Only Formal.
Under date of October 1 you ad-
vised me that our only reason for
interceding vas the request of the
representative of a foreign Govern
ment. October IL. at the regular
board meeting, an open hearing was
had In further consideration of the
case. Hillstrom's attorney advised
the board that there was nothing fur
ther TO present n that Hillstrom
declined to again appear. h only
representation In the convicts behalf
was "A short telegram from the Swed-
ish Minister. requesting communication
of sentence. not by reason Of any new
thing In relation to the case. but as he
expressed 1t FOR the sake Of humanity
and comfy usually practised between
friendly nations"
bcCduSe OF the dDSeuCe Ok any HnOWs
Ing the board terminated the respite
and again denied communication. The
convicted man on the 18th day OF Oc-
tober was resentenced by the court TO
be shot November 19. Forty-six days
after the granting Of the respite n
At the eleventh hour you. as the Pres
ident, without stating any reasons
therefor. again urged a thorough re-
consideration of the case because OF
Its importance and the justice and ad-
visibility of such "A course
Discounts Its Importance.
Your interference in the case may
have levated II to an undue impor-
lance and the receipt of thousands Of
threatening letters demanding the re-
q Of Hilistror1. regardless OF his
guilt or innocence. may attach a pecu-
liar importance to 1t. but the case Is
important in Utah only as establish
Ing, after "A fair and impartial trial.
the guilt of one of the perpetrators
Of n of the most atrocious murders
ever committed In this Stale. 1t also
10 important by reason Of the act that
his case has had more careful and
painstaking consideration at the hands
OF the proper officials of Utah han
any other like case in the history Of
the State.
AS to YOU Huggestion that Justice
requires further consideration Of the
case l earnestly submit that the impu-
tation contained not only in your mes
sage to me-. but also in your message
70 the president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor that this onvic has
nOt had justice in he courts of this
State is not justified. Three groups
Of attorneys have represented Hill
strom in the proceedings held before
the District Court. the Supreme Court
and the Board of Pardons.
The first group was employed by
Hillstrom to conduct his defence tho
second was engaged during the prog
ress of the tiial, participated In the
defence. represented him before the
Supreme Court on appeal and before
the Board OF Pardons the third
group | am informed. was employed
In Hillstrom's behalf by the Swedish
Minister.
No DOubt of His Guilt.
No fairmindcd person acquainted
with the record has any Duh OF
Hilistrom's guilt. The Board OF Par.
dons. with the most p~ainstaking care
has investigated every rumor, every
suggestion and every clue that nigh,
tend to establish the innocence OF this
man and has most earnestly pleaded
with him to shed any light on his
movements n Whereabouts on ths
night OF the homicide. During every
day of the twenty-three months since
he was charged with the crime the
board has n even now stand ready
To make further investigation and give
due consideration to any tangible CIR
cumstince that would tend TO estab.
lLsh Hillstrom's innoct nee.
IT is a significant fact hat those
only are appealed to who have nj
knowledge of the facts. and thos'
only demand clemency who are eithel
prejudiced in Hillstrom's favor or whit
demand his release regardless of hi!
guilt / am fully convinced that you
request must be based on a miscon
ception of the facts or that there Il
some reason of an international ma
ture that you nave not disclosed
With a full knowledge OF all the fact!
and circumstances submitted / fee
that n further p~ostponement at thii
time would be An u~nwarranted inter
ference with the course of justice
Mindful OF the obligations OF my
oath of Office to see to II that tn,
laws are enforced ] cannot and vii
not lend myself or my office to sue
interference. Tangible facts must b
presented before | will further inter
cere in this case, WILLIAM SPRY.
Governor.
CANADIANS LACE HELD.