I have said that I'd have a new trial or die trying.
They can kill me I know, but they can
never make me "eat my own crow."
-Joe Hill
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Monday October 25, 1915 Salt Lake City, Utah - Utah Board of Pardons Challenged to Debate by O. N. Hilton
From the Salt Lake City Deseret Evening News of October 20, 1915: Denial that Joseph Hillstrom has a criminal record is made in a letter addressed to the state board of pardons by O. N. Hilton, of Denver, one of Hillstrom's attorneys. Hilton makes an offer in his letter to publicly discuss the facts at any time in any city of the United States with any member of the board of pardons Judge Orrin N Hilton stated in part: I make this request to afford an opportunity to refute, as I feel I can, among other things, the false, wicked and cowardly aspersion on his character-that Hillstrom has heretofore committed any crime or that he has now, or ever has had, any criminal record-now for the first time so bravely urged as a sufficient justification for taking his life.This matter, as you all must realize, is one now of national, if not international importance, and has excited in tense interest from New York to San Francisco; and I would be, as the attorney for this condemned man, of meaner stuff than men are made of if I did not, in the brief time of life now allotted him, challenge you and each of you to the proofs!
The full article from the News along with further reports on the case of Fellow Worker Joe Hill can be found below the fold.