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Pottsville Pennsylvania
To the Hon. William Spry. Govenor 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 10, 1914, and of the affirmance of the Judgment of conviction of said District 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
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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 defense, 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.
Frank Cobden 416 Mauch Chunk St Pottsville Pa. Wm H Dietrich 328 N 12th St Pottsville Pa. James H Huppert #365 Front St Pottsville Pa. JC Bensinger 176 E Bacon St Pottsville Pa. G Bensinger 176 E Bacon St Pottsville Pa. F Rosenfarb 215 W Norwegian St Pottsville Pa. HC Morris 353 N George St Pottsville Pa.
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Resolution
Whereas, we, the Swedish speaking people of Mt Jewett Pa. 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 an 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 in the Board of Pardons 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
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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 where laws 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 resolution be immediately communicated to the Governor of the State of Utah.
P ? Hazel AJ Quist Secretary Chairman of Meeting
Nov 13 1915
