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THE LIFE PRESERVER
Official Journal of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

VOL. 1 OCTOBER, 1915 No. 2
STATE OF UTAH vs. JOSEPH HILLSTROM

Stay of 16 Days Granted Defendant

Association Efforts Prove Effective

Joseph Hillstrom, sentenced to die October 1, at
Salt Lake City, Utah, for muder, was granted
a reprieve of 16 days by Governor Spry of that
State. The intercession of the NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ABOLITION OF CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT, together
with other humanitarian persons,
doubtless moves Governor
Spry from his determined
stand to let the law
takes its course.

Despite the maxim "every
man shall be deemed innocent
until proven guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt,"
this defendant was convicted
on the weakest, most feeble
and admittedly doubtful testimony
of the vacillating witnesses
of the State.

The Associations agile and
vigil officers lost no time in
endeavoring to secure a reprieve
or possibly a communtation
of sentence for the unfortunate
condemned. Counselor
Reinhardt prepared a
comprehensive brief, setting
forth arguments upon which
he contended that the accused
had not recived a fair,
unprejudiced and impartial
trial. Copies were forwarded
to Robert A. Lansing, United
States Secretary of State, and
W. A. F. Ekengren, Swedish
Minister. A telegram was
received from the latter which
follows:
"National Assn. for the Abolition
of Capital Punishment,
291 Boradway, N. Y. C.:
"Your letters of the 22nd
and 25th have been received.
I have appealed to the Governor
of Utah both directly
and through the Secretary of
State for stay of execution.
(Continued Page 2, Column 2)

THOU SHALT NOT KILL
Study this picture, which is typical of what is
considered an ordinary incident at Sing Sing
Prison. The cold-blooded scheduled killing of a
person by due process of law. The LIFE PRESERVER
welcomes statements of what this picture
suggests to you.

[*THOU SHALT NOT
KILL!

I'M WITHIN
THE LAW.

DEATH HOUSE - SING SING
Couresy of "ROUND THE COURTS" *]