The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-19
Utah's Governor Fails to Heed President Wilson's
 Second Request
DEATH WATCH SET
 OVER HILLSTROM
Execution Expected at Daybreak. Prisoner Takes News Coolly-Re- quests That Body Be Hauled
 to State Line for Buriap'

Salt Lake City. November 1s.--when news of Governor spry's action was conveyed to HfiIstrom the prisoners manner indicated that the news did not surprise him.
 ''rhfs Is nay busy day." he told re- porters. "I am not afraid to die, be- cause I hnve nothing to fear. I wanted a new trial to prove my innocence, but nm not going down my knees to beg for my life. It won't do me any good to make n statement. They will cnil me n liar anyway"
 When the reporters urged him to tell something about his family he saids
 "T guess the family will he extinct tomorrow"
 HiIlstrom sent several farewell teIe- Haywood. secretary treasurer of tho Industrial Workers of the World, Chi cngo, rendt
 "It Is 100 miles from here to wycm-
 
 body hauled to the state line to he burieds I don't want to he found dead fin the state of Utah."
 Another telegram to Haywood read:
 "Good-by, Bill I will die like a true blue rebel. Don't waste any time In mourning-organize.''
 message to Elizabeth Buerley Flynn, New York read:
 Composed new song last week with music dedicated to the dove of peace. It's coming. And now. good by, girlie dear, l have lived like a rebel and l shall die like a rebel"
 Other messages were sent to I. w w. members in Minneapolis and San Francisco
 NO INTERFERENCE
 Governor William Spry, with the unanimous concurrence of the state board of pardons. telegraphed Pres ident Wilson today that he would not interfere further in the case Of Joseph Hillstrom, a native of Sweden. and a member of the I. w. w., sentenced to be executed tomorrow. The gover- nor's telegram was in answer to one received yesterday from the President requesting a reconsideration of the case.
 Arrangements have been completed
 
 was convicted of murdering a grocer and his son In 1914 He will be shot to death probably early tomorrow morning.
 Governor Spry said In his telegram to President Wilson that he is satisfied the Presidents request is based on mls- conception of the facts or that there is some reason of an international nature that the President has not disclosed that a further postponement at this time would be an unwarranted interference with the course of justice and that, mindful of the obligations of his oath of office, he cannot and will not lend himself or his office to such interference.
 DEATH WATCH PLACED
 TIillstrom had not been advised of Gov ernor Spry's action this afternoon. A death watch has been placed over him and will remain until he has been exc cuted.
 The five men appointed to execute fIiH storm have been directed to report at the prison at O clock tomorrow morning.
 Reviewing the history of the case and particularly the Presidents action in con nection with 1t, the governor says in hts telegram
 REPLY TO PRESIDENT
 "September 30 you requested stay of execution of sentence to give the Swed- sh minister an opportunity to present his view of the case. Upon the same day. at your request only, on the assumption that you were in possession of facts not presented to the board. 1 granted a respite until October 16, especially re- uuesting that the Swedish minister person. ally investigate the case and appear be- fore the board, Under date of october L you advised me that your only reason for jinterce6ing was the request of the representative of foreigp government October 16, at the regular board meeting. an open hearing was had in further con- sderation of the case. Hillstrom's attor- ney advised the board that there was nothing further to present and that Hill strom declined to appear before the board again. The only representation in the convicts behalf was short telegram from the Swedish minister requesting communication of sentence, not by reason of any new thing in relation to the case. but as he expressed it t'for the sake of humanity and comity usually practiced between friendly nations). Because of the absence of any showing, the board terminated the respite and again denied the communication, The convict thereupon was on the 18th day of October resent enced by the court to be shot November 1g Forty-six days after the granting of the respite and at the eleventh hour. you. as the President. without stating any reasons therefor, again wired. urging thorough reconsideration of the case be- cause Of It's importance auu tne Justico and advisabiity of such a course. CASE UNIMPORTANT Your interference in the case may have elevated to an undue importance and the receipt of thousands of theaten- ing letters demanding the release of Hillstrom regardless of his guilt or fnno- cence. may attach peculiar importance to it, but the case is important in Utah only as establishing, after a fair and inn partial trial. the guilt of one of the per petrators of one of the most atrocious murders ever committed in this state. It Is also important by reason of the fact that this case has had more careful and painstaking consideration at the hands of the proper officials in Utah than any other like case in the history of tho state,
 AS to your suggestion that justice re- au.res further consideration of the case, I earnestly submit that the imputation contained not only in your message to me, but also in your message to the president of the American Federation of Labor that this convict has not had ustice in the courts of this state. Is not