The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-11-25
Governor Spry OF Utah, Rebukes
Outside interference ass Even
from President Wilson,
and Proves HiEnS elf a
Man. Such as SladOn
Wasn't.

Utah to President Wilson is wholesome
diet, in these times when it is beginning to be
a fashion to pardon murderers, and to create
Boards which reverse Jurles and courts:
With the unanimous assent of the Utah par
doning board, Governor Spry telegraphed Presi-
dent Wilson that he would not interfere further
with Hstroms execution
Going fully into the case in his telegram, the
Governor sharply criticised President Wilson's
action n the matter referring to his intervention
your interference in the case and sharply
setting up that the Presidents statements about
the are not borne out by the facts
Reviewing the history of the and particu-
larry the Presidents action in connection with it,
the Governor says in his telegram:
September 80 you requested stay of execu-
ton of the sentence to give the Swedish minister
opportunity to present his view Of the case
Upon the same day, at your request only, on the
assumption that you were in possession of facts
not presented to the board, granted a respite
until October &c. especially requesting that the
Swedish minister personally investigate the case
and appear before the board. Under date OF
October 1 you advised me that your only reason
for intercedtng the request of the representa-
tive Of foreign government. October 8, at the
regular board meeting, open hearing was had
in further consideration of the case Hillstroms
attorney advised the board that there was nothing
further to present and that Hilstrom declined to
appear before the board again.
No Representation.
1.-THE only representation in the convict's behalf
requesting communication OF the sentence, not by
reason of any thing in relation to the case,
but, as he expressed it, for the sake of humanity
and comfy usually practiced between friendly
nations
Because of the absence of any showing the
board terminated the respite and again denied the
communication. The convict thereupon on the
18th day of October re-Sentenced by the court to
be shot November 10. Forty-six days after the
granting of the respite and at the eleventh hour
you, as the President without stating any reasons
therefor again wired, urging a thorough
SIderatiOn Of the case because Of it's importance
and the justice and ACCESSIBILITY of such course.
"Your Interference"
your interference in the case may have el2-
waited it to undue Importance, and the receipt
of thousands of threatening letters demanding
the release of Hillstrom, regardless of his guilt
innocence, may attach peculiar importance to it,
but the case is important in Utah only estab-
fishing after fair and impartial trial, the guilt
of one of the perpetrators of one of the most
atrOciouS murders ever committed in this State.
1t is also important by Of the fact that this
case had more careful and painstaking consdera-
ton at the hands of the proper officials in Utah
than any other like case in the history Of the
State.
GAS to your suggestion that justice requires
further consideration of the case | earnestly sub
nit that the mputation contained not only in
your message to me, but also in your message to
the president Of the American Federation Of La
Dor, that this convict has not had Justice in the
courts of this State, is not justified Three groups
of attorneys have represented Hillstrom in the
proceedings before the district court the supreme
court and the board of pardons.
Hillstrom Undoubtedly Guilty.
1T is a significant fact that those only are
appealed to who have no knowledge of the facts
and only those demand clemency who either
prejudiced in Hillstrom's favor or who demand
his release regardless Of his guilt.
II am fully convinced that your request must
be based on q misconception of the facts or that
there is some of international nature
that you have not disclosed.
with a full knowledge of all the facts and
circumstances submitted, l feel that further
postponement at this time would be unwar-
ranted interference with the course of justice.