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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 Hill-
strom, 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; be-
cause 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 ab-
sense of any direct evidence whatever, thereby defeating justice and legal-
izing 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-