California Los Angeles [9 items]

Los Angeles, Calif., August 30. 1915.

Hon. William Spry, Governor of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Dear Sir: We, the undersigned, hereby petition you to exercise your power to prevent the execution of Joseph HIllstrom, now under sentence in your state to be shot by October 1st.

The discontent of the laboring masses in this c^^ountry which is causing concern to all thoughtful people, the publication at this time of the reports of the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations in which it is granted that these masses are suffering under unjust conditions, the fact that Joseph Hillstrom's case appeals especally to the revolutionarey element of the labor movement, which looks upon him as a victim of persecution, are reasons which seem to us to render it wise to exercise clemency in his case.

Added to this is a question as to his guilt and the rapidly growing sentiment in America against the death penalty.

We ask you to give these points your earnest consideration and to save adding fuel to the fires of unrest by the death of Joseph Hillstrom.

Yours sincerely,

SOCIALIST PARTY LOCAL LOS ANGELES Sdwy. 8479

223 W.2nd St.

D.T JOHNSON

September 6, 1915.

Hon. William Spry, Governor of Utah, SaltLake City, Utah.

Dear Sir,-- The City Central Committee of the Socialist Party of Los Angeles, California, representing about one thousand members, unanimously passed resolutions Saturday night instructing me to petition you, in the name of the Socialist Party of Los Angeles, that you do all in your power to stay the execution of Joe Hill, condembed to be shot October first.

We feel that it is a grave act to take the life of any individual, even though the state may have to do so for its own preservation in a case of absolutely known guilt. But has the state an absolutely sure knowledge of the alleged guilt of Joe Hill? If there is the least question, can you afford to have it on your conscience that possible an innocent man has paid the price of his life for a crime he did not permit? We as Socialists ask you to consider this question carefully, and petition executive clemency if you can conscientiously grant it.

Yours very truly,

(signed) D.J Johnson GENERAL SECRETARY.

(Signed) Guy Bogart RECORDING SECRETARY

Demand

Mr Wm. Spry Governor of Utah

Dear Sir

This demand is directed to the state authority in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom a man 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 trail 3rd we have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual ways 4th the defendant was practically without council when he was on trail for his life. 5th No motive shown for the crime of which he was convicted. 6th The conviction was found upon the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence. And as we know that authority very seldom make justice to the working class; and that is what we want to see that the Utah authority make justic to Joseph Hillstrom: otherwise we will believe always in his innocence and will put the blame on his hangman for the crime

Name address

R R Gallards Santana. Cal P Robles 640 Mateo St Los Angeles Peter l Paulet 767 San Fernando St Pedro Hernandes Hunter ST no 2112 Jose [?] Benito Jutiessy 640 Mateo St Valentin Martinez 749 Dumma St E Habala Los Victas Cal O E Galaya 775 [?] Hunter St 2112 F Lienska{ Le Ryades G Landeka 301 Ohio St J Lemon 1124 Yale St. N. Rebolledo 657 San Fernando St E. Diaz Bernardo 720 A. Mases 767 San Fernando A Gusman 767 San Fernando St L.A. Signout 314 N. Main A. Dquire 755 New High St Jese Midina 659 SanFernando St Domingo Saludo 767 San Fernando St Nik Sandoval 767 San Fernando St D A. J. R Mimosa St. 607

[Jr?] - [Y?] Librado Rivera - 2325 Ivanhoe Ave. Maria[L.?] Juarez - Ducumum St. 749 [?] Mareles - {Borneriral?] St. L17 1/2 Saturno - [?] Maria {Ding} - 640 Mateo St. Los Angeles TeresaLara - 640 Mateo St. Los Angeles Amadita Venegas - 835 Lyon St. Los Angeles Eurtacio Juarez - Incommon St. 749 B. Elizondo - 767 San Fernando Leanio [Saflies?] - 767 San Fernando St. G. Murrieta - 767 San Fernando O. [Lyney?] - 767 San Fernando St. Domingo Al. - 607 Mimosa St. R. Vasquez - 767 San Fernando St. L. Perez - 767 San Fernando St. T. Derat - 767 San Fernando St. F. Grajeda - 767 San Fernando St. A. Hernandez - la puente Cal

To the Honorable, WILLIAM SPRY Governor of the State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

THE UNDERSIGNED, all being citizens of the United States, and whose addresses are set opposit their name, having being 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, Arlin Morrison, in Salt Lake County, Utha, on January 10th, 1914, and of the affirmance of the Judgment of conviction of said District Court by the Supreme Court of the State of Utha, hereby make appeal to your executive clemency on behalf of said Hillstrom, and request that 'you grant' him a pardon, for the following reasons, D-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 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 defence, 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 (Signed) Antoniau E. Forte

Address (Signed) 1457 [? St] Los Angeles