The State of Utah vs. Joe Hill

Minneapolis, Minn. Oct.28th.1915.

Hon Wm. Spry Gov.State of Utah

Sir ....

I understand that you are going to carry out the States' will by Legally shooting an innocent man, namely Joseph Hillstrom who has as yet not been proven guilty by the State of Utah.

I again have to ask you to commute the sentence of my comrade and countryman whom you know deep down in your heart is entirely innocent of that shooting affair in Salt Lake. You want to be careful that the State of Utah does not go to far in this affair because when you have to come before the REAL COURT, namely the PEOPLE you will find that you want to be careful that the State does not COMMIT a HIENIOUS CRIME which it will do, if you allow Joseph Hillstrom to be shot.

I implore you to use your executive power to free J.Hill and if you do this will be a man amongst men but if you allow Him to be shot then I must say I don't think much of Governors. Hoping that you take action immediately and FREE an innocent MAN I remain

Yours to PROGRESS. C. W. Anderson

By a man who believes in the FREEDOM of the whole HUMAN RACE. Be careful that you do not go to far.

NOV 1 1915

C. W. Anderson. 232 Cedar Ave. Minneapolis, Minn.

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

Sir:

I wish to again bring before you the fact that you have sentenced to be shot one of our comrades, Joseph Hillstrom, whom you know deep down in your heart, is innocent of any crime whatsoever, as the evidence that the State of Utah, brought up against Him will not stand good in the eyes of the people of the U.S. who are everywhere protesting against this unlawfull peace of injustice.

Is the State of Utah so determined to shed innocent blood? If it is, remember the day is not far off when such injustice will have to be answered to the PEOPLE as a whole. Do you think it is going to bring you any thing by letting Joseph Hillstrom be shot to death? NO, it isn't. Remember it will only bring the hatred of the People as a whole against you and is liable to injure the future welfare of the State of Utah.

The citizens of the large city of Minneapolis, Minn. have been in protest against this awfull miscarriage of justice and are not going to keep still until they see Hillstrom given a new trial which is due Him as you know and you must give it to him.

It seems to me that the State of Utah is going backwards instead of advancing as other States are doing. The state in which I am a citizen of (Minnesota) has many years ago abolished such a damnable thing as Capital Punishment and give their prisoners recreation in the open air and also the best of treatment which shows advancement if you please. What is Utah going to do about it? Do you mean to come frankly out in the open and confess that you don't want to try and advance?

Did you ever read the Constitution of the United States? Do you know what it says there? It plainly states that every man, women and child shall have a fair and impartial trial by Jury. Such was not the case of Joseph Hillstrom and if are going to be honest with yourself and the People as a whole you must by all means give Hillstrom a new trial. When such Men as the Swedish Minister to the U.S. and Honorable Woodrow Wilson intervenes it is about high time that you, (who are supposed to be serving the people of Utah to the best of your ability) wake up to the fact that you are living in the 20th. century and not a thousand years ago when barbarism existed and I must say that it still exists in Utah if you are so determined to shed blood of an innocent man. You are the one who has the power to give Hillstrom a new trial and you want to be sure and act before the 19th. of November, Be sure that you act right, by letting Hillstrom have a new trial, as I am sure and so are thousands of other citizens of the U.S. that Joseph Hillstrom will be able to exonerate himself if he is given a fair and impartial trial which you must give him. Remember and act before the 19th. of November as the people of the U.S. have their eyes on Utah and are waiting to see what you are going to do. I am a man who believes in justice and I want to see it in this case of Joe Hillstrom's. Hoping that you act right by giving him a new trial I remain

Yours to Progress.

C. W. Anderson.

Minneapolis, Minn. November,3. 1915.

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

Sir:,,,

I wish to again bring the fact before you that you have in jail in Salt Lake City one who is innocent of any crime whatsoever and you know it. That man is Joseph Hillstrom. He has been sentenced to be shot for a crime which he never commited and as yet the State of Utah has not proven him guilty. Hillstrom was convicted on the most flimsiest circumstantial evidence possible and thousands of citizens all over the U.S. are arising in protest against this damnable unlawliness of Utah. Again I say Utah must be going backward instead of advancing as other states are doing at the present time.

I again ask you to use your executive power to get Hillstrom a new trial which is also being demanded by the people of the whole country and I am sure if it is done Hillstrom will prove himself Innocent which he of course is.

Are you going to let the State of Utah commit this crime on the 19th. of November by letting Joseph Hillstrom be shot to death without giving him a fair and impartial trial? The proposition of having the state militia in readiness and also having a double guard around the State Prison is proof enough that the State of Utah does not want to deal out Justice to its citizens but just wants to remain in the same Despotic state as Lords and Barons did in the Feudal state hundreds of years ago. To tell you the truth I am ashamed of the State of Utah.

You want to use your utmost influence to let Hillstrom have a fair and impartial trial on the 19th of Nov. instead of bringing him before a firing squad. I am a man who believes in the Freedom of the human race and therefore I write these lines for that purpose to urge you to do likewise. If you use your influence to get Hillstrom a new trial you will be a man amongst men but if you don't then I must say that Utah Justice is hopeless and rotten. A Million citizens of the U.S. are waiting for you and Utah to act intelligently by obtaining Hillstrom a new trial and I therefore leave you thus awaiting your Progress in this matter.

Do something quick in Hillstrom's behalf.

I remain

Your to PROGRESS

C. W. Anderson

(By a man who believes in Freedom and Justice.)