Governor Spry (1909-1917) Joseph Hillstrom Petitions

To the Honorable William Spry, Governor of the State of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah.

The undersigned, all being citizens of the United States, and whose addresses are set opposite their names, having been informed concerning the recent trial and conviction of one Joseph Hillstrom, (also known as Joe Hill) by the District Court of Salt Lake County, Utah, for the alleged killing of J. S. Morrison, and his son, Arling Morrison, in Salt Lake County, Utah, on January 10th, 1914, and of the affirmance of the Judgment of conviction of said District Court by the Supreme Court of the State of Utah, hereby make appeal to your executive clemency on behalf of said Hillstrom, and request that you grant him a pardon, for the following reasons, to-wit: That the said Hillstrom was denied by the Judge of the said District Court of Salt Lake County that fair and impartial trial which is guaranteed to all citizens of the United States by the Constitution thereof, and the laws of the State of Utah, in that the said Court denied to him the privilege of being defended by counsel of his own selection, or of conducting his own defence, and that he has therefore been deprived of the benefit of counsel. Because the conviction of said Hillstrom was obtained upon flimsy and wholly insufficient evidence, the said trial being a mockery of justice and the verdict rendered therein due wholly to prejudice prevailing in said Salt Lake County against Hillstrom because of his activity in the labor movement. Name Address Joe Dopmil? Louisville Ky James Weeman St Louis Mo W C Ward Akron Ohio CF Upham? Rolfe Iowa JW Reidy Denison Ia [????????] Fletzer [????????] William Welsch Rochester NY Mike Brida? KC Mo Gust ???? St Paul Minn Enar Tryxell St Paul Minn Geo J Clarence Los Angeles Cal Joe Jannis St Paul Minn Harry Wilson Chicago Ill Osker Beyer Chicago Ill J Pfeifer Carrington N D

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address H. A. Caldwell Newton Kans L J. Lowe ? Utica NY WH. Garner H bg Pa Wm Anderson Minneapolis E Johnson Winnipeg J. H. Waldorf San Jose, California P Schroeder Powell Wis Jahn Globe Aberdin [???] John Curley Ardmore Okla C M Brock Aberdin [???] M Smith Harry McAllister Anoka Minn Tom Doyle NYC NY E.S. Van Nest ? St Louis Mo

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address Wm Gooby Salt Lake Utah Allan Holmer Cambridge Minn Geo Falter Sheridan Wyo. R.S. Saunders Kansas City, Mo [???] Smith Kansas City Kansas Walter C. Careson? Boston Mass John Sullivan New York John Wilhelm Florida Claude Davis New York J N? Howard Ill Jack Cherlo Chicago Ill

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address E.T. Webb Sour Lake Texas Seattle Wash J S Suits Peoria Ills. Leo Janovsky A. D. Wood Titusville Penna V. R. Martin Virginia Illinois Martin Maschell Chicago Ill Gust Johnson Dekalb Ill Jno Miller Elpaso Ill Robert Barrymore South Vernon Va BM White Charlotte NC Harry Walker Cincnata Ohio Thom [M?????] Joliet Ill Walter Hullinger Kokomo Ind. William Britt Rapid City SD William Cartwright Moberly Mo L H? Green Sprague Wash

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address J.A.Waldo Aberdeen, South Dakota Frank Miller St Louis Mo? J.M. Cru Seattle Wash F. L. Hobbs Aberdeen SD Max Till Witchita kans Andrew Par???? 141 east marnack lowell mass Karl [Matzoit?] 1202 ??? Omaha Chas Lewis 224 Maxell St Chicago Ill Stanley Seymour 420 So Topeka Ave Wichita Kans Cal Rodd? Aberdeen SD Chas Shuster F Cummings [?] 2936 Fith ave Chicago A h ??????? Aberdeen SD

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address Geo. W Luggath? 1312 Rosco St, Chicago Ill Fred Kruse 677 North Clark st DH Sweelard 225 [?? ????] ave H M Brown 1635 Michigan Av W R Johnson 2240 So 50 [Ave] Cicero W H Cusack 149 W. Huron St F T Wheeler 3119 N . Kedzie Ave J Smith 2334 Grenshaw St ? Voss 1327 Oak Park Ave (Oak Park Ill) Mrs M.A. Broadhead 513 Leyman Ave Mary Gore 1156 Dearborn Street Chicago Mr HE Gestus? 2059 No Karlov Ave Mrs H E Gestus? 2059 N Karlov Av Mr Arthur L. Norton Appt 19 44 E Chicago Ave C.C. Dunlap 531 Rush St Chicago Morris Isaacson 1158 So Racine Ave Chicago Frank C Wilson 1449 No Park Ave Jas Huber 119 W Erie Thos Conlin 1420 Wabash Av Geo Comerford 318 Hill St Charles Snyder 817 No Clark St Thomas Vernia? 111 W Oak St S J Clifford 859 N Clark St Albert Schmidt? 231 E. Superior St Chas [Blu????] 6117 Drorchester Ave

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address Charles Mahoney [cnha] Neb Frank Niles Chicago ills Daniel Rozycki Chicago Ill John Clark New York John Lau?yk Chicago Ill Harry Benderson Buffalo NY [???? ???????] Chicago Ill Samuel Barrett " " Chad Johnson Chicago JW Sullivan Keane NH

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address W Meyer 1457 Wolfram St Ro???? [??????] 1459 Wolfram St ?? Meyer 1457 Wolfram St Steve Hoyer 1322 N. Lincoln St

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address Ralph Frogge? Kansas City Mo James Scarpoti Des Moines Ia Ben Miller Milwaukee Wis George Vann Aline Okla George Brown Brownsviklle Tex Harold Sheldon Phila Pa John Miller Wichita Kan Robert Frogge St Joseph Mo Ed A Wilson Tampa Fla Chester Gafle? Birmingham Ala Ernst Dahlberg Chicago Ill E Dean Jamestown N Dak E.W. Dooley? Tonopah - Nev Steve Matusek Milwaukee Wis

PETITION

Hon Wm. Spry Governor of Utah.

This appeal is directed to the Board of Pardons in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, a member of the Industrial Workers of the World, under sentence of deagth in the Utah Penitentiary. We have read and heard something of the case: 1st. We do not believe Joseph Hillstrom guilty of the crime for which he has been convicted. 2nd. We do not believe that he had a fair trial. 3rd. We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th. The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th. No motive was shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th. The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended. Name Address Frank Granard 16 Suffolk St Worcester Mass Jerry [Wink?] 18 Canal St Chicago Frank Miller 210 Center St Milwaukee John Kalan 617 Walnut St St Louis Mo C E Gordon Mpls Minn Joe Mandot Wells Nev John Krooker Milwaukee Wis Albert Miller Minot ND Chas J McKernan Detroit Mich Seemann? Rudolf Omemee George White Minot ND T ? Murphy Minot ND