H: July-Sept. 1914; Mar.-Sept. 15, 1915

232 Cedar Av., Minneapolis, August 30th, 1915. Hon. Wm. Spry, Governor of the State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Sir: In the humble capacity of a working stenographer, unofficially appointed to send the enclosed petition to you, I wish to raise my voice, with the tens of thousands who already have spoken, against the execution of Joseph Hillstrom. I am an American, and trace my ancestry to the War of Independence. Hillstrom is a Swede, but persecuted by the same spirit, the spirit of unjust exploitation and interference with personal liberty, that forced on the American farmers and merchants to their revolt. I, and, I think, anyone, who has carefully followed this trial, is at bottom convinced that Hillstrom is not guilty of the crime for which he was sentenced. So far the appeals have been to your own sense of justice. Should these appeals prove unavailing, would we be responsible if some individual, who might know and love Hillstrom, would attempt vengeance on some of the constituted authorities responsible for Hillstrom's death? Some individual who believed in the Biblical motto, "A life for a life." Harry Howard

Mr. Harry Howard, 232 Cedar Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.

Dear Sir:-

Your communication, written on behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, has been by the Governor, filed with the State Board of Pardons, which board, under the laws of Utah, acts upon applications for pardon and commutation.

In order that you may be correctly informed as to the facts entering into the appeal of this case to the Supreme Court of Utah, I am inclosing a copy of the decision of the Court for your persual.

Very respectfully, Secretary to Governor.

213-89th St. Brooklyn, N.Y. August 31-1915

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

I beg leave to plead with you on behlf of one, Joseph Hillstroom, who has been sentenced in your State to suffer the penalty of death on October 1.

I know nothing as to the guilt or innocence of the said Joseph Hilstroom (also known as Joe Hill), but I do know that he did not have a fair trail, in that the court denied him the legal right of being defended by counsel of his own selection. To send a man to his death by such a trial would be the depth of injustice, and would leave a lasting stain upon the fair name of the State of Utah.

I have known of the said Joe Hill for several years and know him to be a poet and writer, and as one who had devoted his life to the cause of the opressed: And in this I know he simply followed the grand traditions of your own great State. It is unthinkable to me, that he, a descendant of the cool headed and peace-loving Scandinavian Race could commit the foul crime of murder. I therefore request that you grant him a pardon. We know him not as guilty. He has not had a fair trial.

Respectfully yours, Samuel Hartelius

Mr. Samuel Hartelius, 213-89th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

Dear Sir:-

Your communication, written on behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, has been by the Governor, filed with the State Board of Pardons, which board, under the laws of Utah, acts upon applications for pardon and commutation.

In order that you may be correctly informed as to the facts entering into the appeal of this case to the Supreme Court of Utah, I am inclosing a copy of the decision of the Court for your persual.

Very respectfully, Secretary to Governor.

Hon. Wm. Spry, Governor of the State of Utah.

Sir:

We the undersigned Scandinavians, assembled in a meeting the 31st day of Aug. 1915, do hereby raise our voices in protest against the execution of our countryman, "Joseph Hillstrom". In the prosection the state failed to produce any evidence whereupon the execution can be justified. The evidences brought forth were only circumstantial and would have been set aside in any other court of the UNION. We therefore believe that Joseph Hillstrom did not get a fair and impartial trial.

We are furthermore convinced that Joseph Hillstrom is not guilty of the crime for which he is convicted to be shot, and we ask that you, the Hon. Wm. Spry, Governor of the state of Utah, will use your executive power for the release of Joseph Hillstrom, whom we think ought to be set free without delay.

[Fritz] A. Holm [sign?]

Scandinavian Branch I.W.W. Local Union No. 170 Seattle, Wash. October 12. 1914.