The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-11-27
H|LLSTR0M PAYS
PENALTY FOR CRIME
CONVICTED MURDERER OF SALT
LAKE GROCER AND HIS SON
EXECUTED AT PRISON.
Final Efforts to Secure Stay of Exc
cution Prove Futilc and Con-
demned Man Faces Firing Squad
After Night Spent in Sleep.

Salt Lake City-Joseph Hillstrom
convicted of the murder of ]. G. Nor
rison and his son j. Airing. January
10, 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
q request of the Swedish minister
Governor Spry granted respite un
I'll the board of pardons could con
slider the case.
The beard OF pardons considered
the appeal for c.emency and denied
it, and en- 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-
tons as chief executive of the com
monwealth Of Utah, and his oath a.
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 Will
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 falterihg. He preserved the
same calm demeanor that has been
characteristic of him since he was
first arrested.
During the greater Fart of his last
Light ON earth Hillstrom sept 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 Hil,strom on the night of
The murder. Hilton asked for re-
spite of ten days to investigate. HILL
strom, when asked If he knew Busky
denied he knew OF such man. This
decided the governor to order the ex-
ecution without delay.
Joseph Hillstrom was convicted OF
the murder of John G. Morrison, a
grocer, and his son, ]. Airing, II
years Cd at Morrisons store in the
southern portion OF the city about 8
O'clock on the evening of January TO-,
1914.
The shooting vas witnessed by
Merlin Morrison, another son, IA
years old According to this boys
story, which was corroborated ~
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
bullet thrugh his chest. j. Airing
Morrison ran to an leo 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 alm.' instantly.
Hillstrom, also known as Joe Hill
was arrested three days after the
shooting en- information given by Dr.
A. A. Bird. Hills. ON staggered into
the doctors home two hours after the
shooting. with large bullet wound
through his left lung. He tod the
doctor he had been shot In quarrel
over a woman ard requested tina;
nothing be said regarding his visit
or wound. The doctor, not having
heard of the murders, treated the
wound and took Hil.strom 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 ant
he informed. the officers.
The doctor noticed an automati
pistol, of the same calibre as shell
found In the grocery after the shoe
ing, in Hillstrom's pocket. Hillstror
threw the weapon away after leavin
the doctors home. Blood was foun
at several places in general souti
erly direction from the store, an
members of the Eselius family said
companion had visited him late tn
night of the murders, talked private
ly with him and left This man wa
not apprehended and has not bee
heard of since. The sheriff's offic
said 1t was Otto Applequist. who ha
for some time been Hillstrom's con
panfon