Evening star., 1915-11-19
Joseph HiIIstrom Executed for
Killing John G. Morrison
and His Son.
FIGHTS GUARDS ERE GOING
TO THE DEATH CHAIR
Utah Case Which Attracted Wide
Attention-President Twice In
tercedes for Condemned Man.


vcmber 1o.-Joseph Hillstrom,
condemned murderer, whose case
attracted attention throughout
the country and prompted the in
tercession of President Wilson,
the Swedish minister to the
United States and the American
Federation of Labor, was put to
death by a firing squad in the
state prison here at 7::42 am. to-
day.
Fiercely Fought His Guards.
Although self-possessed when he
faced his executioners, Hilstrom had
sensational nervous collapse just pre-
viousIy. He tied the door of his cell
with strips torn from his blankets. and
fought the guards fiercely with the
handle of a broom he had snatched
from an attendant in the corridor This
outburst was unexpected.
Hillstrom retired calmly last night:
He remained apparently In sleep untii
early this morning. About 4 O'CLOCK ne
arose and began to shake the cell door,
shrieking as if in a nightmare. The
noise reached the outside guards, VINO
turned in a general alarm.
All the prison officers rushed in. Ihe
prison physician tried with slight sue
cess to quiet the man. 1t was decided
not to interfere with him until neces-
sary and he was not disturbed until
the time arrived to take him to the
scene of the execution. When the
guards arrived for this purpose Hill
strom attacked them savagely with the
broom handle, which he had broken IN
two. leaving a sharp point on one piece,
Deputy Warden A c. Ure receiving a
slight wound in the arm from Hill.
silently until Sheriff ]. S. Corless. for
whom he had previously manifested
high regard, arrived and appealed to
him
Joe this is all nonsense" said Cor
less. What do you mean? You prom
ised to die like a man."
Hillstrom hesitated moment and
then yielded. well. I'm through" he
said But you can't blame man for
fighting for his life"
Kept Asserting Innocence.
The blanket strips he had tied to the
door were then cut, he was blindfolded
and led to the place of execution sup
ported by two guards. He talked in
cessantiy in the few moments that
elapsed between the time of his arrival
and the firing of the death volley. He
asked whether any of his friends were
in the firing squad and kept saying he
was innocent and would die like man.
He voice was clear, but low.
He was quickly adjusted to the death
chair and the attendants drew aside.
Hillstrom's final words were Fire. Let
her go," uttered moment before the
rifles cracked.
Hillstrom wore his prison suit. A
dark suit had been obtained for him.
but the officers feared delay might
cause another outbreak from him, and
did not wait to remove the clothing he
wore.
His breakfast. which was placed be-
fore him about 6:45 o'clock. remained d
untasted and unnoticed. 1t was then he
was in the midst of his nervous out
burst.
Ed Rowan, secretary of the local In
dustrial Workers Of the World organiza-
tion, claimed Hillstrom's body. He inti-
mated it would be sent to Wyoming for
burial, as requested by Hillstrom in a
telegram to W. D. Haywood yesterday.
Respite Denied.
kilograms were received this morning
asserting that William Busky of Seattle
had made an affidavit that he was with
Hillstrom the night ]. G. Morrison was
murdered. and that Hilistrom was inno-
cent They were from o. H. Hilton of
Denver, one Of Hillstrom's attorneys. The
sheriff was requested to postpone the exc
cution until this statement had been in
yestigated.
Warden Arthur Pratt of the prison
then asked Hillsrrom If he knew Busky
and Hillstrom answered that he did
not. The sheriff then was directed to
proceed with the execution.
None of Hillstroms 1. w. w friends
was present. The law provides that
not more than five friends of con-
demned man may be present II their
presence be requested by him. HILL
strom declared last night that he did
not wish any of his friends to see the
execution. and committee of the l. w
W. accordingly was denied admission
10 the prison.
Hillstrom was convicted of the mur-
der of John G.. Morrison, a grocer, and
his son Arling. Under Utah law he
was allowed to choose between shoot
ing and hanging.
President Wilson twice appealed for
further respite for Hillstrom: The
terday. was denied by Gov. Spry as NOT
based on any new facts.
Incident Perplexes Officers.
Officers were much perplexed by ar
incident that developed last night in
connection with arrangements for the
execution. Hillstrom expressed a de-
sire TO wear dark suit which had
been under lock and key with his othe,
Effects. Deputy Warden A c. Ure o,
the state prison brought out the sui,
and examined IL preparatory to having
II pressed. He discovered the name
Morrison" which is the name Of the
man of whose murder Hillstrom wa,
convicted. written in tndelible ink or
the white lining of the suit. When h,
reported to Hillstrom that he had fount
name In the suit Hillstrom inquired
whether the name was "Morrfson," ant
said he believed II had been placed
there by some detective at the count,
JaiL" Hillstrom said the suit wa,
bought for him by a friend after his ar
rest.
The suit. however. officials at tn,
prison say, did not At Hillstrom. 7
was much TOO large for him. Mrs. J. G
Morrison, widow of the murdered man
says her husband had Il suit similar I,
fue one under investigation and tina
the writing resembles that of her hus
hand. but IS unable to identify tn,
I, suit positively as his
Another suit was obtained for Hill
Z strom TO wear at his execution.
Death Watch Provided.
Hillstrom spent last night in his eel
.at the state prison under the ewes o.
the death watch. which was placsf
over him yesterday when Gov. Spr,
declined to grant President wflsouA
request for q consideration of the case
Hillstrom declined to see Il minister
saying that he had worked out his ow,