Series 6645

GOVERNOR (1909-1916 : SPRY) [446]

JOSEPH HILLSTROM CASE PETITIONS, 1914-1916
1.4 cu. ft. and 2 reels microfilm

DESCRIPTION: 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. Petitions were sent to Governor Spry's office protesting the execution and/or conviction of Hill for the gunshot murders of grocer J.S. Morrison and his son Arling.

Although the petitions defending Hill varied somewhat, the following views were typical: he was innocent; he had an unfair trial; he had jurors who were selected unfairly; he received inadequate counsel; he lacked a motive for the crime; and he was convicted on circumstantial evidence.

ARRANGEMENT: The petitions are arranged alphabetically by state of origin. Those from Canada and from no specific area are filed at the end.

PROCESSING NOTE: The series was transferred to the Archives from the Office of the Governor in 1955. Microfilming of the petitions occurred during 1991. Archival processing was completed during 1991.

CONTAINER LIST

Reel	Box	Folder	Description
1	1	1	Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas [12 items]
1	1	2	California [8 items]
1	1	3	California [22 items]
1	1	4	California Berkley-Oakland [18 items]
1	1	5	California Fresno [13 items]
1	1	6	California Los Angeles [9 items]
1	1	7	California San Francisco [33 items]
1	1	8	California San Francisco [28 items]
1	1	9	California San Francisco [24 items]
1	1	10	California San Francisco [9 items]
1	1	11	Colorado [28 items]
1	1	12	Connecticut, Delaware [10 items]
1	1	13	Florida [70 items]
1	1	14	Florida [60 items]
1	1	15	Florida [58 items]
1	1	16	Georgia-Idaho [15 items]
1	1	17	Illinois [32 items]
1	1	18	Illinois Chicago [36 items]
1	1	19	Illinois Chicago [33 items]
1	1	20	Illinois Chicago [31 items]
1	1	21	Illinois Chicago [20 items]
1	1	22	Illinois Rockford [28 items]
1	1	23	Indiana [14 items]
1	1	24	Iowa [15 items]
1	1	25	Iowa [8 items]
1	1	26	Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland [17 items]
1	1	27	Massachussetts, Michigan [33 items]
1	1	28	Minnesota [27 items]
1	1	29	Mississippi, Missouri, Montana [23 items]
1	1	30	Nebraska [8 items]
1	1	31	Nevada [3 items]
1	1	32	New Hampshire [4 items]
1	1	33	New Jersey [41 items]
1	1	34	New Mexico [3 items]
1	1	35	North Dakota [31 items]
1	1	36	New York [38 items]
1	1	37	New York Brooklyn [38 items]
1	1	38	New York Bronx, Buffalo [13 items]
1	1	39	New York Long Island [7 items]
1	1	40	New York New York City [28 items]
1	1	41	New York New York City [12 items]
1	1	42	New York New York City [21 items]
1	1	43	New York New York City [27 items]
1	1	44	New York New York City [22 items]
1	1	45	New York New York City [25 items]
1	1	46	Ohio [17 items]
1	1	47	Ohio [13 items]
1	1	48	Ohio [5 items]
1	1	49	Ohio [13 items]
1	1	50	Ohio [7 items]
1	1	51	Ohio [54 items]
1	2	1	Oklahoma [18 items]
1	2	2	Oregon [21 items]
1	2	3	Pennsylvania [18 items]
1	2	4	Pennsylvania [32 items]
1	2	5	Pennsylvania [16 items]
1	2	6	Rhode Island, South Dakota [14 items]
1	2	7	Tennessee, Texas [17 items]
1	2	8	Utah, Virginia, Vermont [18 items]
1	2	9	Washington [26 items]
1	2	10	Washington [20 items]
1	2	11	Washington [13 items]
1	2	12	West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming [46 items]
1	2	13	Canada [7 items]
1	2	14	General [35 items]
1	2	15	General [13 items]