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Harvest Fields North Dakota Aug 7th 1914
To Govenor Spry Gov of Utah
Dear Sir. We the undersigned Demand a new trial for a man the name of J Hill. Convicted of Murder in the 1st Degree, The Crime Being committed in the city of Salt Lake, state of Utah His Conviction Being Based on the Flimsiest Kind of evidence. He Being Miles away When Said Crime was Committed & said J. Hill Was not given a fair Trial under the Law or the Constitution
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EDWARD J. HOEL
GWINNER, NORTH DAKOTA. Aug. 14 - 15. Mr. William Spry, Governor of the State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Sir, --- We the undersigned workingmen earnestly protest against the conviction of Joe Hill (Joseph Hillstrom) for the murder of J. C. Morrison. We rest assured that the State of Utah has failed to prove him guilty, and that the evidence has been unable to show any motive or connection of Joe Hill with the crime for which he is imprisoned. We hold that his conviction was secured, not by evidence, but by prejudice due to his activity in the labor movement.
We call upon you, as the governor of the state of Utah, to use your influence to secure for Joseh Hillstrom a fair trial, which we confidently believe will prove his inocence and bring about his speedy release.
Roy Howard Clarence W. Bree John Scriven? EJ Hall Ray Hall LA Russell Tom Flynn Geo B Flynn Harry Johnson Frank Gartland Otto Polenz? Ben Kahle Fred? Lindauer ? H Ireland Frank Treban Geo Evans Frank Vogt J H Mays George Murphy WB English J Bjelland ?
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Williston North Dakota August the 31st.,1915
Governor Spry, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear Sir:-
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 trial. 3rd., We have learned that the jurors were not selected in the usual way. 4th., The defendant was practically without council when he was on trial for his life. 5th., No motive was shown for the crfime for which he was convicted. 6th., The conviction was found on the flimsiest kind of circumstantial evidence.
Believing these to be the facts, we the undersigned, demand that the death sentence in the case of Mr. Joseph Hillstrom be set aside and clemency extended.
Percy E Irving Fred King Mrs Ada Irving Cordie King Kenneth Irving F.M. Irving Leonard Irving Florence Chapel V ernon A Irving