The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-11-26

odit LAKE Nlty, Utan, NoNeinuei 10.
Joseph Hillstrom, the famous l. w.
W. leader. was legally executed by a
firing squad Of five hired by the coun-
~ at $40 I'm the yards OF the prison
AT 7:42 this morning. Death was al
most instantaneous. The attending
physicians pronounced the execution
a most humane one, and one that was
far superior to hanging. He was shot
through the heart. That was the
manner of death that he chose.
Hillstrom was convicted of murder,
committed for the purpose OF robbery.
His defense was that he was at an
other place with a certain woman on
the night OF the crime. He died. how
ever, without divulging the name OF
the woman, and II his story was
true, the name of the woman will
probably never be known. At all
events he did not tell It and no wom-
an ever came forth to save him.
The execution of Hillstrom took
place in spite of the pleadings OF the
Swedish government and the request
of President Wilson for a stay.
Was in Insane Frenzy.
Hillstrom went to his death in an
insane frenzy. When the guards
came TO his cell this morning, he un-
expectedly attacked one of them with
a broom handle. which he had man
aged to conceal in his cell. The
guard. though taken completely by
surprise, quickly overpowered the
doomed man, though not until the
officers face and head had been bad
~ cut.
Warden Pratt of the prison and a
deputy led the procession TO the
court yard. where the execution was
to take place. Then followed two
physicians, after whom walked Hill
strom himself. His arms were bound
TO his sides. Guards followed after.
He Was BlindfoIded.
II had been the expressed wish of
Hillstrom TO die with open eyes, fac
ing the prison squad. but this was de-
MED him. His eyes were blindfolded
with a heavy cloth. He made a des-
perate effort to remove this when he
reached the prison yard, but was pre-
vented from doing so by the. fact
that his hands were bound.
He was executed in the presence o.
thirty three witnesses. Outside of the
prison yard a crowd gathered. and
among the spectators were some
|. w. w. sympathizers. A strong
guard was placed to prevent these
from making any trouble. No trouble
occurred with them and none was
expected, but the authorities were
determined to take no chances.
Selected His Own Method.
Shooting was the method OF execu-
ton instead of hanging, as is per-
mitted by the Utah law. His friends
all over the country put up such a
fight to save him that the President
of the United States, at the Swedish
minister's request, granted him a vain
reprieve i'm September.
While circumstantial evidence con-
victed Hillstrom of the murders, his
own attempt to defend himself i'm
court and his refusal to tell where he
was on the night OF the crime, helped
TO send him TO his doom. Hillstrom's
plea was that lie was I'm a married
woman's company and he consistent
~ adhered to the declaration that he
would rather die than ruin her COED
name. This story was not credited
by the authorities.
the murders with a bullet wound in
his shoulder. Blood spots showed
that the Morrisons wounded their as
sailant. The man with whom Hill
strom lived disappeared after the
murder The missing man was be-
lieved 10 have been Hillstrom's ac-
complete. witnesses at the trial tes-
tifying that two men of their general
appearance were seen lettering arounl
the Morrison grocery.
Fourteen men besides Hillstrom
have died at the hands of a Utah
firing squad. according to law. Only
four ever. chose TO be hanged. The
procedure scheduled for today was
fixed by precedent. Extraordinary
precautions were taken to guard Of
ficials. from the governor and supreme
court justices down to Sheriff John
Corless, who was to give the firing
signal. Even the principal public
buildings were under heavy guard as
was also the county prison.
Many Letters in Behalf. ..
Many letters were received during
Hillstrom's fight for a new trial or
Communication, threatening officials
with death and stating that buildings
would be RACED with dynamite II
Hillstrom was not freed.
Before dawn today Hillstrom was
CARRIED in a black shirt, open at the
neck; black trousers and loose slip
pers. He was given his choice of
food for breakfast. This last meal
over. Hillstrom was led. blindfolded
by two guards toward the open court
where rifiemen were to be hidden be-
hind the blacksmith shop door. Hill
strom's request to face his execution
ers unblindfolded was denied. He
was not to see the sun on his last day
on earth.
The rihemen were picked shots
They were taken TO the prison Sc
cretly and their identity is not to be
known. One of their FIVE guns con-
tanned blank. but none OF the rifle
men were to know which had the
harmless weapon. The rifles, extend
ing from FIVE holes in the door, point
ed al a congress chair thirty feet
away In the prison yard The guards
quickly showed the doomed man into
the chair. strapped his legs and arms
to posts and fastened strap around
his waist III
The prison physician took Hill
strom's pulse and pinned white tar
get over his heart. The little group
OF official witpesses kept at safe
distance. behind ropes. sheriF Cor