Tennessee, Texas [17 items]

ReadAboutContentsHelp

Pages

Page 1
Needs Review

Page 1

Wilder Tenn. Sept. 16, 1915

His Excellency, The Governor of Utah. Sir:

We the undersigned, citizens of this state having had our attention directed to the case of the state of Utah against one, Joseph Hillstrom, or as he seems to be popularly known, Joe Hill, wherein he is accused of murder and now under sentence of death, his execution being set for the first of October, desire to respectfully call your attention to the statement made by him in a letter to the Telegram of Salt Lake City in which he protests his innocence and makes the claim that he has not had a fair trial. Now while we do not pretend to be fully posted as to the merits of this case, we are impressed by the ring of sincerety and manly sentiments expressed by the accused, and especially would we call attention to his charge that his lawyers seemed to be very indifferent not exercising ordinary diligence in the matter, of cross examining witnesses even tho that might have been to the immediate advantage of their client and the bringing out of the truth.

We earnestly beseech you to use the influence of your powerful office to the end that justice may obtain in this case where a poor and practically helpless workingman may have a full opportunity to establish his innocence so that it may not be said that [a] redhanded murderer and rapist on account of influence and wealth, as was Leo Frank of Georgia, could have every possible opportunity invoking every possible legal protection even to the point of reviewal of his case by the Supreme Court in Washington, finally to be saved from the gallows by means of unusual wealth and "pull" whereas a poor laborer without either wealth or "pull" may be sentenced to death without even having and interested lawyer to defend him. We would ask you to give this man the benefit of every doubt and if he cannot now have a new trial, at least commute his sentence to life in prison. Our interest in the matter is to see JUSTICE done and respect for all the courts made stronger.

(Copy to the New York World) Respectfully,

JR Mun??? Robt L? Carter EM Poland BL Peck ? GA Brown GW Smith Joe Swallow? George Barrett MC Thomason A? Maddox WS Dooley MD

Last edit over 1 year ago by 29445
Page 2
Needs Review

Page 2

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE., September 16, 1915.

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 opposite their names, having been informed concerning the recent trial and conviction of one Joseph Hillstrom (also known as Joe Hill) by the District Court of Salt Lake Couty, Utah, for the alleged killing of J. S. Morrison, and his son, Arling Morrison, in Salt Lake County, 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 Utah, here make appeal to your executive clemency on behalf of said Hillstrom, and request that you grant him a pardon, for the following reasons, to-wit:

That the said Hillstrom was denied by the Judge of the said District Court of Salt Lake County that the 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.

S. G. Gregory 1110 Gass St. Fr. [Drufenbrock?] 205 S 4th St. J. E. Covington 1824 - 16 Ave N Ward 2 J. J. Walker 112 1/2 - 4th Ave N 5th J. W. Hopkins 1302 Shelby Ave 18th John J. Carlton 42 [?] Murphy Rd R. B. Bostick 613 So. 9th St. W. J. Morris 422 Monroe St. D. F. Foutch 830 Maple St.

Last edit almost 2 years ago by markusandemily
Page 3
Needs Review

Page 3

Geo T Allen ?J Vaughan AC Hester Morris Goldstein Jr JJ Kiely JB Robinson TG Oakley GJ Forte WP Radcliff GS Pate EG Gebhardt JM Biggs AB Bass FC Witehead ? JA Collison Chas Hill EG Gowers John Prinz HE Sanders WH Watts Rab Stiles J P Wasr??om WJ Johnson ?J Billis Will Stiles JR Johnston OB Radebaugh SC K???????? NF Foster AJ Buske AT Timberlake RL Moore FO Harper WC Buth????? RT Lazenby ? AJ Morrison OC Briley EK McConnell J? Binke ? OW Gorff ? TG Allen JR Campbell JH C?????man? TB Hicks WE Breedlove EH Bradley CM McCarthy GC Matoon KR Rice

Last edit over 1 year ago by 29445
Page 4
Complete

Page 4

TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE, TENNSSEE., September 20, 1915.

TO THE HONORABLE WILLIAM SPRY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF UTAH, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

Your Excellency:-

The socialist Local of Davidson County located at Nashville, Tennessee hereby appeals to your Honor in behalf of Joseph Hillstrom, otherwise known as Joe Hill, who has been accused, convicted and scentenced by the District Court of Salt Lake County, Utah, and affirmed by the Supreme Court of the same State, to be executed October 1, 1915 for the alleged killing of J.S. Morrison and his son, Arling Morrison in Salt Lake County, Utah, January 10, 1914.

We ask you to grant him a pardon on the following ground to-wit: Because he was emphaticly denied that fair and impartial trial, which is guaranteed to every citizen of this United States by its Constitution; because he was tried in a community where the prejudice ran extremely high against him, which was the direct purpose of those opposed to Union ized labor, thereby making him the victim of the conspiracy formed to "Get rid" of Labor Union Leaders, thereby forceing labor into subjection; because he was denied, absoluely, the right to choose counsel for himself or to conduct his own defence before the, so called, bar of justice; because he was not given the benefit of the doubts in his case, neither was he prov en guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; becuase he was tried and convicted by Corporation Lawyers and Courts on cicumstancial evidence, with the absense of any direct evidence whatever, thereby defeating justice and legalizing murder in the most vicious and lawless form. The prosectors now want to have said Hillstrom executed because he has become wise to their tricks and schemes, whereby they are legally robbing him and his class. We do not know his politics, religion, creed nor sect, but we do know this trial is only a mockery of justice and a farce practiced on Society as well as said Hillstrom. Therefore we protest vigorously against the execution of this man. Where! o, where is our liberty?

sec'y. L.W. Wiles

Vice sec'y J.A. Buck-

Last edit about 1 year ago by fabuloki
Page 5
Needs Review

Page 5

Roscoe McCann WR Matthews Frank Nickens Nld glo???? JC Winning Sam Glover ? Bunk ? McClain WG Moody WM Part?? AP Parks JS Freeman Geo ? Miller Arthur Nickeres ? Will Bennett Ed Burden WW Spooner BL Dooley MH Spurlin Will Thomason OP Crockett LW Burden HM Hood GT Hood Jasper Vorty ? Will Baltimore ? Marion Wright AB Adkins

Last edit over 1 year ago by 29445
Displaying pages 1 - 5 of 39 in total