Utah executed this songwriter—then he was mailed to every state but Utah

Joe Hill’s Execution by Firing Squad in Utah

Joe Hill wrote songs that made workers stand up and bosses shake. Born in Sweden, he came to America in 1902 and joined the radical IWW union by 1910.

His songs like “The Preacher and the Slave” gave us the phrase “pie in the sky. ” Then came trouble.

After a store owner and his son were shot in Salt Lake City, Hill showed up with a bullet wound.

Despite weak evidence and pleas from President Wilson, Helen Keller, and others, Utah officials sent him to the firing squad on November 19, 1915.

The story of this labor martyr lives on at Sugar House Park, where a new marker now stands near his execution site.

Swedish Immigrant Crossed the Atlantic Seeking a Better Life

Joel Hägglund left Sweden in 1902, coming through Ellis Island after both his parents died. Born October 7, 1879, in Gävle to a Lutheran family with a railroad worker dad, Joel needed to start fresh.

He took odd jobs across America, working in mines, lumber camps, and on docks, sometimes hopping freight trains.

Around 1910, he joined the Industrial Workers of the World in San Pedro, California, and quickly became the local secretary. People soon knew him by a different name: Joe Hill.

His Songs Gave Workers a Voice and Created Lasting Phrases

Joe Hill wrote “The Preacher and the Slave” in 1911, giving us the phrase “pie in the sky. ” This catchy song made fun of the hymn “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” and workers loved it.

Hill filled the IWW’s Little Red Song Book with tunes like “Casey Jones—the Union Scab,” “The Rebel Girl,” and “There Is Power in a Union.”

He used well-known melodies so workers could learn them fast and sing during strikes. His songs spread through work camps and picket lines everywhere.

Masked Men Attacked a Salt Lake City Grocery Store

Two men with covered faces rushed into John G. Morrison’s store on January 10, 1914, around 9:45 PM.

Morrison and his 17-year-old son Arling worked the counter while 13-year-old Merlin watched nearby. The men yelled “We’ve got you now! ” before shooting, killing both Morrison and Arling.

People outside saw two men running away, one holding his chest and moving slowly. The attack shocked the community and started a police search.

A Mysterious Gunshot Wound Raised Police Suspicions

Joe Hill knocked on Dr. Frank M. McHugh’s door in Murray around 11:30 PM that same January night, bleeding through his shirt from a chest wound.

He told the doctor he got shot during a fight over a woman but wouldn’t name her to protect her honor.

During treatment, a gun fell from Hill’s shoulder holster.

Hill wasn’t the only gunshot victim that night—four other people also got medical help for bullet wounds across Salt Lake City.

Police Connected Dots With Limited Evidence

Officers arrested Hill three days after the murders at the Eselius brothers’ home in Murray.

They had little proof: a gunshot wound from the same night and a red bandanna in his room like what witnesses described.

Before focusing on Hill, police arrested twelve other people and looked into several of Morrison’s enemies. The former cop had stopped robberies at his store before and worried someone might try to get back at him.

The Trial Began With More Questions Than Answers

Judge Morris L. Ritchie started court on June 17, 1914, as prosecutor E. O. Leatherwood told the jury they only had circumstantial evidence.

Young Merlin Morrison couldn’t identify Hill, only saying his build looked like one of the attackers. The prosecution couldn’t show any motive, explain why robbers left without taking money, or find the murder weapon.

Hill had no known link to Morrison or his store.

The Jury Ignored Holes in the Case

Defense lawyers showed evidence suggesting Hill’s innocence, including a bullet hole in his coat four inches below his exit wound, showing his hands were up when shot.

They asked why killers would yell “We’ve got you now!” to a stranger. Despite these questions, the jury found Hill guilty of first-degree murder on June 27, 1914, after just a few hours.

When asked how he wanted to die on July 8, Hill picked the firing squad, saying, “I’ve been shot before, and I guess I can stand it again.

Famous Americans Tried to Save Joe Hill

President Woodrow Wilson sent two telegrams to Utah Governor William Spry asking to delay the execution. Helen Keller, the Swedish minister to the US, and AFL President Samuel Gompers all pushed for mercy.

The Utah Supreme Court turned down Hill’s appeal on July 3, 1915, and the Board of Pardons refused clemency on September 18, 1915. Governor Spry allowed one short delay but rejected the second presidential request.

The execution date stuck at November 19, 1915, despite growing protests worldwide.

His Final Words Became Labor Movement Legend

The night before he died, November 18, 1915, Hill wrote a poem called his “Last Will,” asking to be burned with his ashes spread to the wind.

He sent a telegram to IWW leader Bill Haywood with words that would inspire many: “Goodbye Bill. I die like a true rebel. Don’t waste any time mourning, organize.”

The next morning at 7:22 AM, guards strapped Hill to a chair and covered his eyes at Utah State Prison in Sugar House.

His last words were “Fire—go on and fire!” before five riflemen shot him through the heart.

Thousands Mourned at Two Massive Funeral Services

Hill’s body lay at O’Donnell’s Mortuary in Salt Lake City on November 21, 1915, where thousands came to pay respects.

Workers then took his remains to Chicago for a second memorial on November 25 at the West Side Auditorium, filled with 5,000 mourners.

Speakers gave eulogies in ten different languages as Wobbly leaders and Socialists honored their friend.

The next day, workers took Hill’s body to Graceland Cemetery for cremation, with each IWW delegate watching the casket enter the furnace.

His Ashes Traveled to Every State Except Utah

Workers divided Hill’s remains into 600 small envelopes featuring his portrait and the words “Murdered by the Capitalist Class.”

On the first anniversary of his death, November 19, 1916, IWW leaders handed 150 packets to convention delegates in Chicago.

The remaining 450 envelopes went out by mail on January 3, 1917, to IWW locals worldwide, reaching every American state except Utah.

The distribution ended abruptly in September 1917 when federal agents raided IWW offices, confiscating five tons of materials including most remaining ash packets.

Visiting Sugar House, Utah

Sugar House Park is a free 110-acre park where Utah State Prison once operated from 1854-1951. You can visit daily from 7am to 9pm in winter or 10pm in summer.

The park runs between 1300-1700 East and 2100 South to I-80.

Joe Hill’s execution site is near the 2100 South entrance at 1400 East, where the old prison yard was. Every November 19, people hold a commemorative vigil marking the anniversary of his death.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Utah named a bird pavilion after him. The reason why will make you smile.
• Two locals saw magic in Utah’s “rough stretch of road” – now millions visit yearly
• Ancient moon paintings in Utah’s McLoyd Canyon reveal a lost spiritual practice