California [22 items]

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 death 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.

Beliving thsee 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

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 death 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.

Beliving thsee 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 Wm. Negri

Address Belmont, Calif

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 death 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 pratically 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 CharlesChas. Gibbon Brawley Imperial CA Valley Calif

Resolution

Whereas, we the Swedish speaking people of [Daily] City, Cal. in massmeeting assembled, have learned that one countryman of ours, JOSEPH HILLSTROM by name, is being unjustly held in jail in Salt Lake City, Utah, under sentence to die on Nov. 19, 1915;

Whereas, we from all accounts of his trial have become convinced that the said Joseph Hillstrom is innocent of the crime of which he is accused and is merely a victim of a conspiracy, due to hatred and prejudice on account of his activity in the labor movement;

Whereas, Joseph Hillstrom never had a fair trial;

Whereas, he has been denied a new trial in spite of the gravest errors in his trial; and

Whereas, this innocent man is in immediate danger of being judicially murdered due to the stubborn prejudice of his judges, and

Whereas, these same judges on the Board of Pardon have tried to justify their position by slandering the character of the man they unjustly deliver to death, by falsely imputing to him a criminal record;

Therefore, be it

Resolved, that we, one for all, and all for one, demand that the execution of Joseph Hillstrom be stayed, and that he be immediately liberated or granted a new trial.

The sentence has been pronounced by men, and it can be set aside by men as long as Hillstrom is alive. Law was made for the sake of man and not man for the sake of the law. And be it further

Resolved, that we condemn as cowardly the action of the Board of Pardons in falsely imputing, through the press, a criminal record to a man whom they deny the chance to defend himself; and be it further

Resolved, that, should, contrary to our expectations, the sentence be carried out, we shall hold the whole American people responsible for such an outrage; and be it further

Resolved, that in such a case American citizenship has no longer any value to us, and that we forsware the loyalty and allegiance to American laws, government and institutions, which has heretofore characterized our people. For where law and government cease to be the instruments of justice and are used for the murder of the innocent, loyalty ceases to be a virtue. And be it further

Resolved, that these resolutions be immediately communicated to the press, to the President of the United States, to the Governor of the State of Utah and to the Mayor of our City.

Nels A. Nelson Chairman of the Meeting.

Nov., 1915.

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

HONORABLE SIR,

Whereas pubblic opinion, corraborated by the action of President Wilson in ordering the stay of execution of J. Hillstrom (alias Joe Hill) is convinced that enough evidence was non brought to light to convict said J. Hillstrom with capital punishment, the undersigned: a respectfull citizen of the U. S., demands that another trial be granted J. Hillstrom, and appeals to your executive authority that American Justice and fairness be given full cours.

Trusting that a possible innocent life be saved by the sole application of Fair Justice.

Respectfully Yours

Name James Paganettis Address San Rafael, Calif.

To His Honor, Governor William Spry and the Board of Pardons of the State of Utah Salt Lake, City, Utah

Sirs:

I hereby respectfully petition your clemency in the case of Joseph Hillstrom now condemned to die on October 1, 1915, for his supposed murder of J. B. Morrison.

The facts of the trial of this case are now traveling far and wide, and are such as to call forth protest from every justice-loving man and woman.

From authentic sources I learn that the evidence in Hillstrom's case was flimsy and entirely circumstantial; the identifications of Hillstrom insufficient and trivial; no motive was shown for his committing the murder; the proceedings of the court in the matter of the dismissal of Hillstrom's attorneys was irregular and prejudicial to the defendant's cause; and the community in which he was tried was prejudiced.

No man should die on such a showing.

For a state through its officials to administer the penalty of death where the slightest chance of innocence remains is a blot upon the honor of that state. Such brutalities committed by a state undermine the strength of government and bring contempt upon the law.

It is your duty and your privilege to guard the honor of your state. Therefore I petition you for a commutation of Hillstrom's sentence.

Signed: A. F. LaRose Address: 606 Shotwell St