Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-11-25
H|LLSTROM 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 Futile and Con-
demn.d Man Faces Firing Squad
After Night Spent in Sleep.


convicted of the murder of j. G. Nor
rison and his son J. Airing, January
10. 1914 was executed N the state
prison Friday morning
Hillstrom was sentenced to be shot
on September (. 1914. but Il delay OF
the date OF execution was secured and
he was resentenced to be executed on
October |. 1915. At the request OF
President Wilson. in compliance with
4 request of the Swedish minister,
/ Governor Spry granted Il respite I'M
Ill the board OF pardOns could con
slider the case.
The board Of pardons considered
the appeal for clemency and denied
ii. and on October Is. Hillstrom was
again sentenced to be shot on NOvem-
Der ~. 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 As
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 vii
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
characteristics of him since he was
first arrested
During the greater part of his last
night on earth Hillstrom slept sound.
". When he awakened he said he
felt well. with the execution of
sore throat. His voice was husky
A message received bv Governor
Sprv at $40 Friday morning caused
the governor TO get into touch with
members of the hoard of nardons
The message was from Judge Hilton
of Denver and said William Buskv of
Seattle had made affidavit that he
was with Hinstrom on the night of
the murder. Hilton asked for A re.
spite Of ten DAYS to investigate Hill
strom. when asked if he knew Buskv
denied he knew of such a man. This
decided the governor 10 order the ex
ecution without DELAY.
Joseph Hillstrom was convicted Of
the murder of John C. Morrison.
grocer. and his son. J. 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. u
years old. According 10 this bows
story. which was corroborated on
many points by other evidence. two
masked men entered the store with
drawn pistols, and saving. We've
got YOU now" opened fire on Norri.
son. who fell mortallv wounded with
I bullet thrugh his chest. J. Airing
Morrison ran TO an ice boN in the
store. seized a sS-calib-a revolver
and fired. Before The boy could shoot
again. he fell. pierced nv three hul.
lets and died almost instantly
Hillstrom. also known a. Ioe Hul
was arrested three davs after ths
shoctins On information ssvs, nv mr.
A 4 Bi-a Hi,lst~or, Staggered ;,.c
the doctors home two hours ,s-a- ths
shooting. with a largo burs, wound
throush his left lung He to.d tbs