Category: Hellraisers Journal

Hellraisers Journal: Salt Lake County Sheriff Continues Preparations for Execution of FW Joe Hill

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Don’t Mourn; Organize!
-Joe Hill

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Hellraisers Journal, Monday November 15, 1915
From The Salt Lake Tribune:
Sheriff Corless Prepares for Execution of FW Joe Hill

At this time, the only man that stands between Fellow Worker Joe Hill and a Utah firing squad is Governor William Spry. Preparations by Sheriff Corless continue apace for the execution of our Rebel Songwriter who now has less than four days left to live. The Salt Lake Tribune reports:

GOVERNOR GETS MORE HILLSTROM LETTERS
—–
Preparations for Execution of Condemned Man
Continued by Sheriff.
—–

Sunset Magazine, Nov 1915, UT Gov Spry, Joe Hill, Hillstrom

Yesterday was devoid of occurrence of significance in the case of Joseph Hillstrom, condemned to be shot Friday morning for the murder of John G. Morrison, except in that its passing shortened the time allotted him for life from five to four days.

Several special delivery letters were received by Governor William Spry in relation to the execution, but the governor said last night that they were of the usual order. Other letters are probably among the accumulation that will be delivered at the governor’s office this morning. Governor Spry said that the situation was the same as it had been for some time past, no word having been received from any person of official standing with regard to the case. Oscar W. Carlson, Swedish vice consul in Salt Lake, said last night that he had received no further word from the Swedish minister or other officials with regard to Hillstrom. He said that so far as he knew at the time of speaking there remained nothing to do in behalf of the condemned man.

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Hellraisers Journal: Sketch of the Utah State Prison Yard Where Fellow Worker Joe Hill Will Be Shot In Five Days

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Now my friends know I am innocent
and I dont care what the rest think.
-Joe Hill

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Hellraisers Journal, Sunday November 14, 1915
Sketch of Utah State Prison Yard Where Joe Hill Will Be Shot

The execution of Fellow Worker Joe Hill is set for November 19th, five days from today. Yesterday, Parsons Daily Sun of Kansas published the following drawing of Utah State Prison showing, in detail, the exact “procedure” planned for the shooting down of our Rebel Songwriter:

Joe Hill execution , Diagram sketch of Utah state prison yard, Parsons (KS) Daily Sun, Nov 13, 1915

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Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Members Charge Mormons with Exerting Religious Prejudice against Joe Hill

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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To the scrap heap we are going
When we’re overworked and old
When our weary heads are showing
Silver threads among the gold.
-Joe Hill
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Saturday November 13, 1915
From The Salt Lake Tribune: I. W. W. Members “Declare Mormon’s Oppose Hillstrom”

The very same newspaper that was so scandalized by the lack of religious content for the funeral of Fellow Worker Horton, is now aghast that any member of Industrial Workers of the World would suggest that the Mormon church exerted religious prejudice against Fellow Worker Joe Hill during the trial which lead to his conviction. From the Tribune of November 12th:

DECLARE MORMONS OPPOSE HILLSTROM
—–

Latest Charge Is Church Influence Was
Used Against the Murderer.
—–
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT
—–
Mrs. J. Sergeant Cram and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
Ask Wilson to Intervene.
—–

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, Hutchinson (KS) News, Nov 12, 1915

Members of the I. W. W. are endeavoring to get members of congress to intercede for Joseph Hillstrom on the representation that he was condemned to die because the Mormon church exerted religious prejudice against him.

This was learned last night from dispatches from Washington. Mrs. J. Sergeant Cram and Mrs. Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, one a Socialist and the other an I. W. W., called upon President Wilson yesterday to plead for Hillstrom’s life. Dispatches said that the president had promised to investigate the case further and see if he could do anything.

At the governor’s office yesterday it was stated that no word had been received from President Wilson.

“I do not believe,” said Governor William Spry, “that President Wilson will ask another postponement of Hillstrom’s execution. There certainly has been no change of plans here. Hillstrom will be executed November 19.”

Protests against the execution of Hillstrom were received yesterday at the governor’s office, as every day for weeks, but there was none from Washington. The governor is ignoring threats and appeals alike.

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Hellraisers Journal: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn & Mrs. Cram Meet with President Wilson on Behalf of FW Joe Hill

Janet RayeElizabeth Gurley Flynn
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Don’t Mourn; Organize!
-Joe Hill

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Friday November 12, 1915
From The Washington Times: Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
-Pleads with President to Aid FW Joe Hill

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Mrs. J. Sargeant Cram were granted an interview with President Wilson yesterday in order to make a plea for his intervention to prevent the execution of Fellow Worker Joe Hill, scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City in seven days. The Times of November 11th gave the following report of the meeting:

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, smaller, Portrait

TWO WOMEN PLEAD FOR JOE HILLSTROM
—–
Mrs. J. Sargent Cram and
Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
see President.
—–

Personal appeals were made today to President Wilson by Mrs. J. Sargeant Cram, of New York City, and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, I. W. W. organizer, to save the life of Joseph Hillstrom, sentenced to death in Salt Lake City for murder. The President listened to the women’s plea for ten minutes, after which, they said, he told them he would do everything he could to save the man.

Hillstrom is sentenced to die November 19. Every avenue of escape from death has been closed to him and the only one who can save him is the governor of Utah, who thus far has refused executive clemency except on the personal plea of President Wilson a month ago, when the execution was stayed to hear new evidence.

The women this morning told the President they were not asking a pardon, but only asking for a commutation of his sentence to life imprisonment in order that the case can be investigated.

—–

[Photograph added.]

~~~~~~~~~~
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Hellraisers Journal: Gurley Flynn, Jim Larkin, Joe Ettor, Jack Reed, Speak at Mass Meeting in New York for FW Joe Hill

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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If Joe Hill dies, spare your tears. Erect no monument to his memory,
as the man by his example has builded himself a monument
that shall endure for all time.
-Big Jim Larkin

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Hellraisers Journal, Thursday November 11, 1915
From The New York Times: Mass Meeting for Joe Hill

From the Times of November 10th:

Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, smaller, Portrait

More Pleas for Hillstrom.

A mass meeting was held in Manhattan Lyceum, at 62 East Fourth Street, last night, to adopt measures that might induce the Governor of Utah to stay the execution of Joseph Hillstrom, who is to die in Salt Lake City on Nov. 19 for murder. Among those who addressed the meeting were Joseph Ettor, its Chairman; Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, and Jack Reed, the war correspondent. At the end it was decided to send telegrams to President Wilson and Governor Spry of Utah asking for mercy for Hillstrom, and one to the condemned man himself telling him of their love and sympathy.

—–

[Photograph added.]

———-

James Larkin, 1876-1947, Big Jim Larkin, Dublin Giant

Also speaking at the meeting was Big Jim Larkin, the Irish labor organizer known as the “Dublin Giant,” who insisted that Class Solidarity could yet save the life of Fellow Worker Joe Hill. Larkin exhorted the crowd:

If Joe Hill dies, spare your tears. Erect no monument to his memory, as the man by his example has builded himself a monument that shall endure for all time. At the moment of this man’s death you will have erected a monument, not to the man but in commemoration of the weakness of class union and the failure of solidarity. But let the monument of failure and of shame be not erected. Let the case of Joseph Hillstrom go to the greatest jury of all-the jury of the workers. Let the working class pass judgment and liberate Joe Hill. If we but say the word nothing can stop us. So let us speak and act that Joe Hill may again be with us and sing for us as we march on toward industrial emancipation.

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Hellraisers Journal: I. W. W. Bids Good-Bye to Fellow Worker Horton, Murdered by Gunthug Myton

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones
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Hellraisers Journal, Tuesday November 9, 1915
Salt Lake City – Grand Send-Off to Local I. W. W. President

Virginia Snow Stephen

On Sunday, November 7th, Local 69 of the Industrial Workers of the World bid good-bye to their President, Roy Joseph Horton. Ed Rowan and Mrs. Virginia Snow Stephen were among those who gave eulogies for the slain union leader.

The murderer, “Major” H. P. Myton remains under charges of murder, but is being celebrated as a hero by the local Elks Lodge.

The local kept press was scandalized that there was no mention of religion nor of the heavenly rewards awaiting the martyred union leader. Instead, those present concentrated on continuing the organizing work of the I. W. W. in behalf of the working men and women of Salt Lake City. On that subject, Mrs. Stephen stated that only through “organization and making use of such tragedies as the Horton case” will the working class ever get justice.

Roy Horton’s funeral is the first of what will most likely be two grand I. W. W. send-offs in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the month of November 1915.

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Hellraisers Journal: Joe Ettor Speaks on the Boston Commons on Behalf of Fellow Worker Joe Hill

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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There are no limits to which
powers of privilege will not go
to keep the workers in slavery.
-Mother Jones

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hellraisers Journal, Monday November 8, 1915
From The Boston Globe: Protest on Boston Commons

Joe Ettor Speaks in Boston for Joe Hill, Globe, Nov 8, 1915

If the people who gathered to hear Joe Ettor speak on Boston Common yesterday do as he asked them to do, there is a huge bunch of mail outbound from Boston this morning addressed to President Wilson, Gov Spry of Utah and Senator Reed Smoot. All the letters are to ask for further consideration of the case of Joe Hillstrom, the song writer of the I. W. W., under sentence of death by shooting and with his execution set for Nov 19.

Hillstrom Is the young Swede convicted of murder in Salt Lake City last year and whose execution was set for Oct 1. An appeal to the President through the Swedish Minister at Washington produced a stay, but the Utah Board of Pardons refused to act, and the death sentence was reaffirmed, the date being advanced to a week from next Friday.

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Hellraisers Journal: Last Act of Judge Jackson Is to Release the Murderers of Raleigh County Miners

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Plea for Justice, Not Charity, Quote Mother Jones

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Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday March 15, 1905
From Cincinnati Enquirer:
Judge Jackson’s Last Act on Behalf of Coal Companies

Who among us can ever forget the Massacre of the Raleigh County Miners of West Virginia? Judge Jackson also remembers and, thus, made sure to release their murderers as his last bit of work before leaving the bench. From yesterday’s Enquirer:

LAST WORK
—–
Of Judge Jackson Was the Release of
Deputies Charged With Murder

-SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER

African-American Coal Miners OH, e-WV

Charleston. W. Va., March 13.-John Jay Jackson to-day wound up his career here as a United States Judge. He rendered his decision in the cases of Gaujot and Summers, growing out of the famous Stanford City fight between miners and Deputy Marshals two years ago.
Gaujot and Summers were indicted for murder in the State Court in Raleigh county, and were taken before Judge Jackson on writs of habeas corpus. Their cases were heard more than a year ago, but this decision was held up pending an appeal in the cases of Laing and Hurt in similar cases decided by Judge Jackson and taken to Circuit Court of Appeals. He had released the men on the ground that they were acting as Deputy Marshals of the United States when the killing was done, and therefore were not amenable to state law. His decision was affirmed by the higher Court. He held the same way in the Gaujot and Summers cases, and they were both released from custody and bond to-day.

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Hellraisers Journal: Testimony of Mary Petrucci: She fled burning tent as militia fired upon her and her children.

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Ludlow Mary Petrucci, Children all dead, ed, Trinidad Las Animas Co CO Affidavit, May 11, 1914
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Hellraisers Journal, Sunday February 7, 1915
New York City – Mrs. Petrucci Tells Harrowing Story of Ludlow Massacre

Mrs Dominiski & Mrs Petrucci, NY Trib, Feb 4, 1915

On Wednesday morning, February 3rd, Mrs. Mary Petrucci sat listening to Mr. Jerome Greene, Secretary of the the Rockefeller Foundation, give his testimony before the Commission on Industrial Relations. She heard this man speak of the vast amounts of money donated to worthy causes by the foundation bearing the name of the man who controls the condition under which the Colorado miners and their families work and live. Pennsylvania’s New Castle Herald described her response to that testimony:

“The Rockefeller way of philanthropy,” he said, “is a far better way than if he [Mr. Rockefeller] were to blow it in on his own amusement or give his money away in an ostentatious manner.”

Mrs. Mary Petrucci seated in the front row, threw her arms about Mother Jones and, in an audible whisper, said:

My God! What do you think of that, and we and our families facing starvation in Colorado.

That afternoon, Mrs. Petrucci followed Mrs. Dominiski to the witness stand and recalled that terrible day when her three youngest children perished in the Ludlow Massacre. Her eldest had died just a few weeks earlier of illness.She described fleeing her burning tent, carrying the baby and pulling her little daughter by the hand while her four year old son ran along behind:

Well, in the evening when the fire started I came out of my tent; it was all on fire, and I came out of my tent, and as I was coming out of my tent under that tank there was a lot of militiamen, and I was running out and hollering with my three children, and they hollered at me to get out of the way and they were shooting at me and I ran into this place [the cellar where the children died].

She awoke early the next morning and made her way to the Ludlow depot, and from there to Trinidad. She lay ill with pneumonia for the next nine days, and only when she recovered did she learn that all of her little children were dead.

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Hellraisers Journal: Mrs. Mary Petrucci of Ludlow, “There is sorrow in our hearts..but there is no dishonor.”

Janet RayeHellraisers Journal
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Quote Mary Petrucci, Joe's Little Hammer, NY Tb p7, Feb 4, 1915

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Hellraisers Journal: Thursday February 4, 1915
From the New York Tribune:
-Mary Petrucci Remembers Her Four Little Children

WE NEVER FORGET

The Petrucci Children, Lucy, Joe, Bernard, Baby Frank, 1913
The children of Mary and Thomas Petrucci
Who lost their lives in Freedom’s Cause
Lucy, Joe, Barnard, and Frank
Mary Petrucci, on tour, May 1914
Mary Petrucci

Once again, Mrs. Mary Petrucci has come east from the coal camps of southern Colorado to give testimony about the long struggle of the miners there. It was during this struggle in Freedom’s Cause that she and her husband lost all four of their children. The eldest, six-year-old Bernard, grew sick last March and died in the Ludlow Tent Colony after the militia refused to let Mary take him to a doctor in Trinidad. The three other children Joe-4, Lucy-2, and the baby, Frank-6 months, were murdered in April by the gunthug militia during the Ludlow Massacre. All three children were suffocated when the militia set the tent on fire over their heads as they sought shelter in the cellar beneath the floor, hiding from machine gun fire.

Mrs. Petrucci has come to New York accompanied by another miner’s wife, Mrs. Margaret Dominiski. Their testimony before the Commission on Industrial Relations will be thoroughly covered by Hellraisers over the next few days. Today we wish to present a long interview with Mary Petrucci conducted by Lucy Huffaker for the “Woman’s Varied Interests” section of the Tribune. Mary Petrucci hopes that by telling the story of her little children, their sacrificed lives will count toward the betterment of workers everywhere. During the interview, she stressed that she and her husband are still strong for the union despite their terrible loss. She concluded the interview with this statement:

But you’re not to think that we could do any differently another time..We are working people-my husband and I-and we’re stronger for the union than we were before the strike. We’ve paid-I guess you’ll admit and everybody will-that we’ve paid a pretty big price for our belief. I don’t know just how any man and woman can do more than have their children, all their children, taken from them, do you? But we’re not ‘scabs.’ We never have been and we never will be. There is sorrow in our hearts, and there always will be, but there isn’t any dishonor.

I can’ have my babies back..But perhaps when everybody knows about them, something will be done to make the world a better place for all babies. At least, I like to think so. It is the only thing which gives me any comfort.

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