Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-20
GOV. SPRY ON WARPATH
Continued from Page Cne)

Continued from Page Cne)
A chair for Hillstrom had been plac-
ed against the inner wall OF the prison
facing narricade to conceal the hVe
men of the firing squad from the con-
demned man and the spectators. Three
of Hillstron's friends had been invited,
at his request to witness the eNecu-
ton.
Hillstrom retired calmly last night.
He remained apparently asleep until
early this morning. About o'clock ne
arose and began to shake the cell door.
shriehinr as if in nightmare. The
noise reached the outside guards, who
turned in a general alarm. The prison
physician tried with slight success to
quiet the man. Il was decided not |"
interfere with him until necessary ana
he was not disturbed until the time
arrived to take him to the scene OF the
execution.
When the guards arrived for this
purpose Hilstrom attacked them saw
ageiy with the broom handle, WHlTh
he had broken in two. leaving $ldip
point on one piece. Deputy Warren
IRE received q slight wound IN the
arm. Hillstrom fought violently until
Sheriff Corless. for whom he had pre-
yiously 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 q man.
Hillstrom hesitated moment and
then yielded.
! well. I'm through he said. Put
Won can't blame man for fighting for
his life"
/ The blanket strips he rad tied TO the
door were then cat, he was b!lndfoioed
and led to the place Of execution sup
ported by two guards.
| Gives Order to Fire
/ Hillstrom's final worGs we're: Fire.
Let her go." uttered armoncnt before
! the rifles cracked.
! Ed Rowan. secretary of the local I'M
! ion of the industrial Workers of the
/ World. claimed Igillstrom's body. lie
intimateG it would be sent to Wyoming
for burial as requested by Hillstrom.
| The telcsrams RECEIVED this morning,
asserting that William Rusky of Sc
| attic. had made an affidavit that he
was with Hillstrom the night Morrison
| was murdered and that Hillstro.n was
| innocent, were from O. IL. Hilton OF
! Denver, one o. Hillstrom's attorneys.
! The sheriff was requested to postpone
| the execution until this statement had
been investigated. Hillstrom told War
! den Pratt of the prison that he did
! not know Busky.
The sheriff was then directed to pro-
! coed with the execution.
! None of Eillstrom's |. W. W. friends
were present. The law provides that
not more than five friends of con-
! demned man may be present if their
presence be requested by him. Hill
strom declared last night that he did
not wish any of his friends to see the
! execution.
PerrIexing Inc ident
/ Officers were much perplcxcd by an
! incident that deN clopcd last night in
connection with arrangements for the
| execution. Hillstrom expressed de-
sire to wear a dark suit, which had
| been under lock and key with his 9TH
| err effects Deputy Warden a. G. IRE
I of the state prison brought out the
| suit and examined it preparatory to
! having it pressed. He discovered the
| name Morrison written in indelible ink
on the white lining of the suit. When
he rerorted to Hillstrom that he had
| found q name on the suit. Hillstrom in
quired whether the name was "Morri-
son." and said he believed it had been
placed there by some detective at the
| county Jail" Hillstrcm said the suit
t was bought for him by a friend after
| his arrest.
I The suit. however officials at the
: prison said. was much too large for
| Hillstrom. Mrs. j. G. Morrison, widow
| of the murdered man. said her husband
| had suit similar to the one under in
| vestigation and that the writing re-
| senlbled that of her husband. but she
was unable to identify the suit posi-
| lively as his. Another suit was obtain
| ed for Hillstrom to wear at his execu-
| ton. -r..-.s-
Review Of Case
Hillstrom was convicted of the MUIR
/ der of John Morrison. grocer and his
son Airing. Under Utah law he was
| allowed to choose between shooting and
! hanging
| President Wilson twice appealed for
further respite for Hillstrom. The
| Presidents second request. made yes
| terday, was denied by Governor Spry
as not made on any new facts.
| At six o'clock this morning. Governor
| Spry and the members of the board of
pardons received kilograms from Sc
attic. Wash. saying that William
| Busky of that city had sworn to aft
davits saying that he was with Hill
| strom all of the night on which the
Morrison murders were committed and
| that Hillstrom was innocent. similar
message, it was stated, had been sent
| to President Wilson.
/ Attorneys for Hillstrom Immediately
asked the governor to grant a ten-day
! respite. Members of the pardon board
| held hurried conference and decided
| not to interfere with the execution. 1t
| was reported at that time that Hill
| srom was weak and showing signs of
| breaking down under the strain.
The number of spectators Al" the ex-