The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-20
Err CO." SAYS
HILLSTROM AS HE
Is SHOT TO DEATH
j. w. w. Poet Dies Protesting
His Innocence Of the DOu-
BILE Murder.
ATTACKS ATTENDANTS
AT FINAL SUMMONS

SALT LAKE Crrr. Nov. 1s.--Joseph
Hiiistrom. the I. W. ". poet. convicted
Of a double murder. was shot to death
By a firing squad In the state prison at
7:l2 o'clock this morning. Just two
hours earlier a last attempt 10 obtain a
respite for the condemned man had been
made.
Following the receipt of u telegram
from Seattle. stating that q man there
Rad made affidavits that ne was with
Hillstrom on the night J. q. Morrison
and his son were murdered and hat
Hillstrom could have had no part in
the crime. "A hurried conference was
held by members Of the Board of Par
dons. The decision was reached not TO
Interfere with the execution.
Al I o'clock this morning Hillstrom
invoke began shrieking and shaking
the door of hie cell. A general alarm
was sounded and all the PRISON guards
rushed in. When attendants came to
lead him to the place Of execution Hill
strom fought them, but he was quoted
before the death chair was reached. His
last words were: Fire. let 'er GO"
4 moment later he was dead.
HiIlstrom Attacks Attendants.
Hillstrom retired calmly last night
and apparently slept we'll. When
he awoke he leaped from his cot scream
ing. seizing one OF the blankets he
tore II into strips. which he tied to the
cell door. He then grabbed a broom
handle from one Of the guards and with
Il attacked the attendants who went
to his cell soon after I o'clock. Deputy
Warden IRE received n slight wound in
the arm from this weapon.
Hillstrom fought 'un,il the appearance
Of sherif J. $. Coriess, for whom he
had protested high regard.
This Is all nonsense. joe said the
Sheriff. You promised to die like a
man."
ThA condemned man became calm at
once.
I'm through he said quietly. but
you a blame a man for fighting for
his life"
He talked necessarily on the way to
the chair. and while being bllndfolded
reiterated his innocence and his deterni-
nation to die like a man. When he was
seated in the chair ne said
Gentlemen, I die with a clear con-
science. never did anything wrong in
my life. ] die fghtiHg-not like a cow
ard. Good-by. Fire let 'er GO"
The chair had been placed asainst
the inner wall of the prison facing a
0arricade behind which the firing squad
of Ave was concealed. The spec
tators. limited by law to Ave. were COM
posed only "f officials and newspaper
men. \ committee of thu 7. W. w
was denied admission to the prison.
Hilstrom having said that he wished
nons OF his friends to be present.
morrison" On the Coat,
Hilistrom expressed n desire last night
20 wear a dark suit which had been put
away with his other effects. A deputy
warden, in examining the suit pre-
paratory to having it pressed. was
astounded to find the name Morrison
on the lining of the coa,--the name of
the victims OF the murder OF which
Hillstrom had been convicted. When
told OF the discovery the prisoner said
he believed the name had been placed
in the garment by "A detective AT the
county Jail.
Thu suit was much too large for
Hillstrom. Mrs. Morrison. wild. W Of the
murdered man.. was unable to Identify
II as her husbands, but said he had
had one of similar appearance and that
the writing on the lining resembled his
Hillstrorn was put to death in his
prison clothinb.
Tho body was claimed by Edward
Rowan. secretary of the local I. W. W.
and will be sent to Wyoming in ac-
cordance with a request which Hill
0trom sent to w. u. Haywood yesterday
The telegram received by Gov. Spry
early in the morning named William
Busky Of Seattle as having made afti-
davits testifying to Hillstrom's limo.
cence. Warden Arthur Pratt asked the
prisoner II he knew a man Of that nam.
and he replied in the negative. . How.
ever. Hillstrom's attorneys went to the
Governor with u plea for "A ten day
aS,Nlt aud tha p,.attnu az th. I.arlnp
Board was then called hastily.
Would Have No Minister.
Hillstrom declined to see a clergyman
10 the last. He said he had worked out
q theory of religion for himself and was
satisfied with it, and could not b.
helped by talking with "A minister. FL
expressed disappointment but not sur
prise when he learned. last night tina
Gov, Spry had rejected President VII
sons second request for a reconsidera
ton OF the cas-. Al that time ther
was no indication Of the nervous col
lapse that came this mornine.
one of Hillstrom's last acts yeSterda,
was to pen a rhyme which he intended
for his last will and testament, II WA
" follows:
Ny kin dom, need to fuss and moan.
Moss does no, cling to a rolling stone.
Ny body, oh, II ] could choose
would to ashes It reduce.
And let the merry breezes blow
My dust to where some flowers grow.
Perhaps some fading flowers then
Would come to life aud bloom again.
This IL my last and final Will,
Good luck to all Of you.-Joe Hfl.
Gov. Spry has received more letter
threatening his life. Ths, !. w. "
held q large meeting In Main street las
night. They were watched by the polio
n no attempt at violence was mad'
The Governor declared to-day hat IN
Industrial Workers must be driven iron
the State.
IF the police won do it, 7 will" h
declared.
III liz EOR REKENEE