The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-19
HlLLSTROM,
/. w. w. HEAD, DIES
FIGHTING
tCeatiaued from PaEe oneI.

-----~-----~
(Ceatinued from Page OneD.
his cell. One of the guards was
beaten down. All showed the marks
OF fitiistrcnfs dying wrath nv TREY
stalked beside him TO his place or
death.
Hillstrom had asked 20 be permit.
ted to look into the rife barrels
from which his death was TO squirt
The request was refused Even az
ter the bandage was on his eyes
and heavy straps pinned his arms TO
his sides. Hillstrom struggled for
sight. With Hillstrom strapped into
the big congress chair. Sheriff Cor
less shouted Aim"
Hillstrom, who had been quiet
several minutes. galvanized the
nerves OF the witnesses, and all but
preclpitsted a bung1ed execution ~
curling his lips In derision and
shouting. Fire. let 'er co."
Only for the difference In voices
probably two OF the guards might
have fired, for two gun barrels
pointing ominously through the
apertures In the door were seen to
waver and then settle.
Sheriff Corless quickly grabbed
the cue, given by the doomed man
himself. Almost before Hillstrom
high pierced shrek had died away
the sheriff's voice echoed, Fire
Hillstrom's head sagged to his
breast with that leering grin still
on his lips.
All four bullets had pierced Hill
stroms heart The fifth rife. &C
cording TO practice. contained a
blank cartridge.
firing squad since condemned men
were allowed the choice between
shooting and hanging, today's ex
ecution was the most dramatic
The pleadings OF the Swedish gov
eminent. and President Wilson's in
tercession on two occasions failed
TO save Hillstrom.
Hillstrom's unsupported defense
that he was elsewhere at a married
house on the night the two
men were slain. was disregarded by
the authorities. He went 10 his
death with the woman's name, il she
his own secret. She did not
come forward 10 save him.
Hillsirom was pronounced dead
within 13 seconds after he was shot
at 7:42 a. m.
The doctors pronounced the exc
cution most humane" and "obvi-
ously superior to hanging" Hal
strom himself chose TO be shot by
a firing squad instead of dying on
the scaffold.
AS coon as the guards opened his
cell door. Hillstrom attacked them
with his broom handle, severely cut
ting one man.
Il will die fghting-not like .
he continued screaming
while the guards pinioned his arms
TO his sides.
They urged him 10 be quiet and
take his medicine like a man, and
when further resistance was useless
Hillstrom settled down suddenly TO
an apathetic calm.
Now | can die with a clear con
science" he said.
The march TO the firing squad
was then commenced Warden Ar
thur Pratt and a deputy led the line.
Two physicians followed and then
between two deputy sher-
IFS.
Hillstrom's eyes were not blind.
folded until he had been taken into
he prison yard. II was his wish TO
face the firing squad with open eyes
but a thick, heavy band OF cloth was
placed tightly across his eyes and
around his head.
Hillstrom walked with long.
swinging stride. When he arrived
opposite the door OF the prison
shop. behind which the
I'VE IlHeucn Ncic cbdbouSN, htH
strom found the 33 witnesses in |
their places.
Hillstrom tried TO remove his |
but was prevented by |
straps that had been drawn around |
his arms and waist.
He was led to big congress chair |
about 20 PAGES distant from five
holes in the blacksmith shop door
The guards quickly showed him !