Series 6642
Governor Spry Joseph Hillstrom case records
Dates: 1915-1916.
0.20 cubic foot and 1 microfilm reel
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
As chief executive officer of the state, Governor Spry had the authority to commute the sentences of those convicted of crimes. The conviction and execution of Joseph Hillstrom (Joe Hill) became one of the most controversial criminal cases in Utah history; it generated national and international interest. There are newspaper clippings, a funeral oration, reports, and essays on radicalism.
An open letter to the Salt Lake Telegram was written by Joe Hill. In it, he replyed that he tried to discharge his attorneys, although the judge refused the request, because they did not cross examine the state's witnesses and failed to offer a defense. Further, Hill stated, he had not been in Salt Lake City long enough to make an enemy, and the evidence showed that Morrison was killed by an enemy for revenge. He expressed the view that because of his involvement with the Industrial Workers of the World, he was being used as a scapegoat. He ended the essay by stating, "I have lived like an artist andI shall die like an artist."
A copy of the funeral oration for Joe Hill is included; it was presented by Judge O.N. Hilton at the West side Auditorium in Chicago on November 25, 1915. He described the areas where he felt the trial was unfair: providing presumption of innocence; establishing motive; failing to find a bullet that would indicate Hill was shot in the grocery store; and producing a reliable eyewitness identification of the killer. Hilton criticized the Mormon Church, the Utah Supreme Court, the State Board of Pardons, and Governor Spry.
Numerous reports from private detectives, written shortly before and after Hill's execution, described their activities to keep under surveillance the members and the headquarters of the Industrial Workers of the World. They were trying to establish if there was a plot to harm Governor Spry, or to harm Salt Lake City. To protect the Governor, they also provided him with an escort service.
Images Available
This series is available on microfilm.
This series is available online as part of the Utah State Archives Digital Archives.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Related Records
Gary Gilmore scrapbooks from the Supreme Court, Series 26075, contains scrapbooks that relate to another famous capital punishment case in Utah history.
Indexing Terms
Hill, Joe--1879-1915--Trials, litigation, etc.
Spry, William.
Crime--Utah.
Executions and executioners--Utah.
Criminals--Utah.
Radicalism--Utah.
Murder--Investigation.
Private investigators--Utah.
| REEL | BOX | FOLDER | DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | Essays on Radicalism [2 items] |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | Funeral oration [1 item] |
| 1 | 1 | 3 | Investigation and Protection reports [67 items] |
| 1 | 1 | 4 | Newspaper articles [31 items] |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | Summons [1 item] |