The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-24
Labor Leader and Socialist
Writer Hold the Crowded
Court Room Spellbound
for Over an Hour
ETTOR CLAIMS HE IS
BEING TRIED UPON
HIS VIEWS, NOT ACTS
Asks for Death Penalty, Not Prison
Sentence, If Found Guilty-Neith-
er Has Any Fear of Result
Allege Plot of Capital
lists to Kill Woman

Salem Salem. Mass. November 2s.-'If
you think us guilty of numbering our sis
ter, give us death. History will record
our end. We will so to higher tudg-
ment seat and millions OF workers will
take UP our flag of labor when we drop
it in the ditch
That in substance was the closing
theme of two of the most remarkable
pleas ever heard in a court room when
Joseph J. Ettor and Arturo Giovannitti.
leaders in the textile strike at Lawrenes
last winter arose in the prisoners cage
today in the Essex county court to speak
for themselves and their comrade. Joseph
caruso. accused of the murder Of Anna
Lopizzo. who fell in strike riot last
January.
Ettor, the labor leader. and Giovan-
nitu. socialist writer. held the court room
crowded with sympathlzers spellbound for
more than an hour.
Atwill Denounces Both Men
District Attorney Atwill had just de-
nounced both men, He had spoken the
last word for the commonwealth. charg-
ing that the utterances of Ettor ana Gio-
vannitu to the Lawrence strikers were
reasonable, that such as they were not
needed in the commonwealth of Massa-
ohusetts to aid In the solution of its
problems, that instead of being philan-
tbropists and apostles of peace and work.
ers for the betterment Of hun1ariiss tne4
we're menace to free government.
agents of mob rule, destroyers OF the SOW
ercignty OF the state.
The defendants lawyer informed Judes
Quinn OF the desire Of the prisoners to
speak. The Judge announced that under
The law OF Massachusetts they could
speak to the jury. but he warned them
not to discuss anything outside tho
bounds of the evidence that had been
introduced in the case. lsttor, half rising
In his seat. nodded assent and then rose
to his feet.
In clear. bell like voice, he began to
speak deliberately and coolly. He an
alyzed his case declaring he had been
tried not upon his acts. but upon his
views. once in his statement he hesi-
tated. saying: Perhaps his honor. ths
court, will not let me say what / am
about 10 say-it is in line with what L
have said about the agents of the mill
owners planting the dynamite in Law
renee and causing the street car riots
to discredit the strikers
Charges Capitalistic Plot
you may proceed" said the court and
then Ettor declared with emphasis that
his sister, Giovanntti's sister, Caruso's
sister Anna Lopizzi" had been killed az
he believed, as result of another plot
of the mill owners TO break the strike.
Isttor protested innocence OF murder or
melting to riot. not only for himself, our
for his comrades. lie urged that ii tina
jury thought snem guilty they should be
given the death penalty, not shut up IN
prison, where they could not continue
their work for the betterment of the
working class and ultimate attainment OF
their ideal, condition whore laborers
would earn all the profit OF their labor.
He pictured the cross, the gliillotlne. the
gallows and the electric chair as unable
through all history TO choke right
eous cause and ended in plea for '.sim-
pie justice"
AS Ettor sat down scores of womsn
were weeping. Even more were in tears,
among leaders associated with the de-
PENDANTS In the Lawrence strike
Giovannitti's First Speech
Then Giovannitti rose from his place
beside his comrade. His face seemed
swollen with emotion. his eyes yelling
with tears. lie said that he was about
10 make the first public speech he ever
had uttered in your beautiful language"
Leaning toward Mr.. AtwilI. the district
attorney. Giovannitti said in a trembling
voice:
so solemn Is this moment. so full with
clashing emotions am | now that I do
know whether ever Will conclude
what | have TO say"
Then he Strengthened up In the cage
and for 20 minutes he talked He did not
Continued on Page TwoD