The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-27
PLOT TO KILL UTAH
GOVERNOR is FOILED
Friends Of Swedc Who Will
BE Shot for Murder Planned
to Blow Up Spry's Home.
DIES TO SAVE A WOMAN

ANN NN''f ''f' '~
police announced tonight hat they had
uncovered n plot to dynamite the home
of Gov. Spry following appeals to the
Executive to reprieve Joseph Hillstrom.
itinerant poet and philosopher. con-
demned to death in connection with the
murder OF j. q. Morrison and his son
Airing In January. 1914.
Members OF the Governors family are
being closely guarded In consequence OF
the discovery. Threatened reprisals aid
to ave been made by the /. W. W. for
the Pardon Boards refusal TO grant
Hillstrom a new trial took on a serious
meaning when the police announced that
recent fires in the New House Hotel and
several business places were incendiary.
In the meantime Jail officials daily re-
hearsed the firing squad programme
scheduled for next Friday. which, ac-
cording TO Utah's laws, Hillstrom was
permitted to moose as the alternative to
hanging.
Though the Utah Supreme Court unan-
imously affirmed the verdict OF the
county court In Hillstrom's case extraor-
binary efforts have been made to obtain
a new trial. a communication Of sentence
or at the least a reprieve for the con-
demned man.
More than a thousand letters have
been sent to Gov. william Spry. to the
Justices OF the Supreme Court and to
the Attorney-General OF the state ploid-
ing for mercy. or as the petitioners put
u, justice. Some of the letters threat
ened death for the Governor and two
of his children II filllstrom Is executed.
The I. W. w. as an organization. has
taken an active part in the campaign
TO save the poet from death. local So
cieties in various parts OF the country
Joining in the appeals to Utah officials.
Women Urge Freedom.
Influential women OF his and other
cities OF the State, basing their action on
the circumstan,ial nature OF the evidence
by which Hillstrom was convicted. Joined
In the movement FOR communication. Fore
most among these was Mrs. Virginia
Snow stephen. an instructor in art In
the University Of Utah. who. when the
board OF pardons was about to give the
final decision In the case. went to Den
yer and interested a leading lawyer
there In the convicted murderer's behalf.
When the Governor and the other mem-
bers OF the Pardon Board met last Sat
urday this attorney pleaded for a life
sentence for his client.
At that hearing an intimation was
given that the Government of sweden
might make representations to Washing
ton urging that its subject had not got a
fair trial. Since that day no more has
been heard OF the possibility of internal
tional action and Hillstrom's local cham
pions, having expended every other pos
sible effort without success, nave given
up the fight. SO Hills,rom, IL his own
story IL to he credited. will pay the SUI
preme penalty for chivalry.
Throughout the year that the cam
paign to save the condemned man was
under way Hillstrom said less In his
own behalf h n one of a hundrcd
other persons. when his case came TO
trial he expressed contempt for the abil-
ity Of lawyers and asked permission
to act AS his own representative. He
ordered out OF the room two attorneys
whom the Judge had appointed TO ques-
ton witnesses In his behalf. lie re-
fused to go on the stand even when
advised that in doing so the danger OF
a death sentence would be lessened.
silent to His Lawyers.
When lawyers Che did consent 10
their employment after his conviction)
pleaded with him TO tell his own story
TO the Board of Pardons Hillstrom re-
manned obduratc. To the Governor. the
| Justices Of the Supreme Court and the
Attorney-General. who seconded the APP
peal. he turned a deaf ear. Finally.
when the lawyers argued for a commu-
tation Of the sentence to life imprison-
ment, Hillstrom leaped to his feet and,
shaking his fist. roared
Il don't want a Communication OF SEN
tence. ! don't Iant a reprieve either.
I'm an innocent man and | demand n
new trial. II ] can't have a new trial
I'll take death"
TO close his store on the evening Of
men entered the place. Both fred and
Whether the motive was robbery or re-
Younger son. testifyIng at tho trial. said
one OF them in shooting shouted We've
got you now" Both bandits escaped
Merlin Morrison, the boy witness. in
telling the stor,s of the shooting 10
neIghbors and later to the polio" said
seven shots had been fired.
when the men started shooting AT
papa my brother ran to the lee chest
and got papa's revolver" he said.
Then he came back and shot ono OF
the men. think he was badly hurt"
AT about midnight, six hours after
the shooting, Joseph Hillstrom called
at the house OF Dr. McHugh 10 have a
bulle extracted from his breast. 'Tvc
been in a fgh over a woman" was tho
only explanation.
Notified the Police,