A: Oct.-Nov. 16, 1915; n.d.

Corona, NY, 12- 50th St., Oct. 11, 1915.

Governor of Utah, Salt Lake City,

Dear Sir:- Through the intervention of the [Woodrow Wilson|President of the United States]], a reprieve was granted to Joe Hillstrom of your State, who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to death. This sentence hangs over him and he is to be executed on Oct. 16th.

Not only was the flimsiest testimony adduced against the accused man, but, as he consistently states, instead of the State being obliged to prove his guilt, the court required him to prove his innocence. This is in direct contradiction to all legal proceeding and precedent.

If, on the basis of such evidence as was produced, the State of Utah is so desirous of removing Joe Hillstrom from among the living, it would appear that particular malignance on the part of certain interested parties must be a leading factor in the tragedy that possibly will be enacted within a few days.

Joe Hillstrom is a fighter for the downtrodden. He has been "on the firing line" in defence of the working people, just as John Lawson was in Colorado. And as justice has proved to be non-existent in Colorado (I am a Coloradoan), so, too, Utah is about to besmirch her name and add another to the great list of murders that are committed in the name of State.

To a student of contemporary economic and juridicial history and evolution, it is a noteworthy fact that only the working class or its leaders are marked out as victims of these shameful travesties that are called justice. Enraged as the working class is becoming at the spectacle of a different interpretation of the same law, depending upon the economic status of the accused person ------ leniency, if not exoneration, being the gift of the wealthy accused, condemnation, gallows and the penetentiary being the fate of a member of the laboring class---a sweeping fire of anger is bound to seize it if such murders are allowed to be carried out as the one proposed for Oct. 16th.

Even though it is delegated to the separate States to fix their penal code, no law dare be a contravention of United States law, which guarantees and safeguards the rights of the individual. Joe Hillstrom's trial testifies to the fact that his rights as an accused before the court were trampled upon, simply because he refused to prove his innocence. This is absolutely no evidence of his guilt.

Joe Hillstrom is a valiant fighter for the working class, and I add my voice to the many that have been and will be raised in protest against his execution and in demand for the new trial that he is entitled to and has asked for.

I beg you, therefore, to use your power in the State of Utah, so that the legal farce that has been called Colorado and Georgia may not be repeated in your State.

I am, dear Sir, Yours respectfully, S. Amter

10/17/15

Hon Gov. Spry Salt Lake City Utah Dear Sir:-

As an American citizen I beg to petition you to stay the hand of execution in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom.

Trusting you will do your uttermost in behalf of justice. I remain,

Yours respectfully. H. Allberg

Aline Okla 10-17-15

Hon William Spry Governor Utah Salt Lake City Utah

Dear Governor sir in reading of the conviction and sentence of Joe Hill on circumstantial evidence it moves my hart with pity to write you this simpel prayer that you in your high office have the power to save the inocent from foul murder We enderstand that the law gives every doubt over to the condend Hoping god may guide

your hand and pen in writing. Joe Hills pardon and that you will receave Gods blessing and the applase of the peopel as your reward on earth and a home in heaven as you will deserve

Yours Sincerely John F Altaffes