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Wilder Tenn.
Sept. 16, 1915

His Excellency,
The Governor of Utah

Sir:

We the undersigned, citizens of this state having had our attention
directed to the case of the state of Utah against one, Joseph Hillstrom,
or as he seems to be popularly known, Joe Hill, wherein he is accused of
murder and now under sentence of death, his execution being set for the
first of October, desire to respectfully call your attention to the
statement made by him in a letter to the Telegram of Salt Lake City
in which he protests his innocence and makes the claim that he has not
had a fair trial. Now while we do not pretend to be fully posted as to
the merits of this case, we are impressed by the ring of sincerety and
manly sentiments expressed by the accused, and especially would we call
attention to his charge that his lawyers seemed to be very indifferent
not exercising ordinary diligence in the matter, of cross examining
witnesses even tho that might have been to the immediate advantage of
their client and the bringing out of the truth.

We earnestly beseech you to use the influence
of your powerful office to the end that justice may obtain in this case
where a poor and practically helpless workingman may have a full opportunity
to establish his innocence so that it may not be said that [a] redhanded
murderer and rapist on account of influence and wealth, as was Leo
Frank of Georgia, could have every possible opportunity invoking every
possible legal protection even to the point of reviewal of his case by
the Supreme Court in Washington, finally to be saved from the gallows
by means of unusual wealth and "pull" whereas a poor laborer without
either wealth or "pull" may be sentenced to death without even having
and interested lawyer to defend him. We would ask you to give this man the
benefit of every doubt and if he cannot now have a new trial, at least
commute his sentence to life in prison. Our interest in the matter is to see
JUSTICE done and respect for all the courts made stronger.

(Copy to the New York World)

Respectfully,

J R Munroe
Robt L Carter
E M Roland
B L Peck
G A Brown
G W Smith
Joe Swallows
George Barrett
M C Thompson
A W Maddox
W S Dooley MD