Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-20
Hillstrom, I. w. w. Leader,
Is Executed for Crime
Of Numbering Man
GOVERNOR REFUSES
REQUEST OF WILSON
President Is Told That Case
Was Complete Unless He
Had New Evidence

Salt Lake City, Nov. 19.-Joseph
Hillstrom, convicted of the murder
of John G.. Morrison, a grocer, and his
son airing, was executed by shooting
at the state penitentiary here today.
under the Utah law he was allowed to
choose between shooting and hanging.
President Wilson twice appealed for
further respite for Hillstrom, and the
Swedish ambassador also intervened.
The presidents second request, made
yesterday, was denied by Governor
Spry as not based on any new facts.
When the officers came to get Hill
strom, he broke down and started to
struggle with them but when he saw
the sheriff he calmed down and threw
up his hands. Accompanied by the
officers, he walked to the death chair.
After he was seated he said:
Gentlemen, die with a clear con-
science. never did anything wrong in
my life. l die fighting, not like
coward. Well, I'm going, goodbye
When the officer started to give the
command to fire, Hillstrom yelled,
"Fire!" The squad fired and the bullets
pierced his heart. He was dead in one
minute and ten seconds after the vol
ley was fired.
Fights His Guards.
Fire! Let her go!" were Hill
strom's last words, uttered an instant
before the rifles Of the firing squad
ended his life at 7:41 o'clock this
morning. Although he was self-pos-
sessed and asserted his innocence
when he faced his executioners, Hill
strom had nervous collapse previ-
ously, when he tied the door Of his
cell with strips torn from his blank
cts and fought the guards fiercely
with the handle OF a broom he had
snatched from an attendant In the
corridor until Sheriff j 8. Corless, for
whom he had previously manifested
a high regard, arrived and appealed
to him.
Joe, this is all nonsense said
Corless. what do you mean? You
promised to die like man."
Hillstrom hesitated a. moment and
then yielded.
well, I'm through he said. But
you can't blame man for fighting
for his life
ProcIaims Innocence.
He talked necessarily in thn, few mo-
ments that elapsed betweeniithe 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. His voice was
clear but low. He was quickly adjust
ed to the death chair and, as the at
tendants drew aside, Hillstrom
Strengthened himself in the chair and
said. "I'll die like a man. l never
did any wrong in my life. die fight
ing, not like a coward. Well, I'm 60
ing. Goodbye, everybody"
The word to fire was given and the
reports of the rifles came an instant
after Hillstrom's final words, "Let her
go." He died instantly,
Hillstrom's body was claimed by Ed
Rowan. secretary OF the local Indus
trial Workers of the World organiza-
ton, who intimated that it would be
sent to Wyoming for burial, as re-
quested by Hillstrom in telegram to
w. D. Haywood yesterday.
Affidavit Fails to Help.
kilograms from 0. N. Hilton Of
Denver one Of Hillstrom's attorneys,
asserting that William Busky of Sc
attic had made an affidavit that he
was with Hillstrom the night ]. G.
Morrison was murdered and that Hill
strom was innocent, were received by
Governor Spry and other officers of
the state and county early this MORN
ing. The sheriff was requested to
postpone the execution until this
statement had been investigated. War
den Arthur Pratt of the prison then
asked Hillstrom If he knew Busky and
Hillstrom answered that he did not.
The sheriff was then directed to pro-
ceed with the execution.
None Of Hillstrom's l. w. w. friends