The daily worker., 1925-01-12
WORKERS AID
SACCO-VANzETTI
DEFENSE FUND
Early Friends A sist
Labor Leader
10y The Federated Press)


PLYMOUTH, Mass, Jan. 11.-Bef
rando Brini thinks Of Bartolomeo
vanzetti with great affection. Van
zetti encouraged him most when he
began to study his beloved violin.
For seven years Vanzetti, who with
Nicola sacco is still fighting to prove
their innocence of the murder and
robbery for which they are impris
oned, lived with the Brinis in quaint
old Plymouth, Mass. Beltrando was
boy of thirteen helping Vanzetti to
peddle eels. Beltrando was one Of the
eighteen important alibi witnesses in
the Italian workers first trial.
Beltrando is a sensitive youth OF
seventeen now and remembers regret
fully that the last time he saw Van.
zetti before the detectives took him
was the occasion on which Vanzetti
politely scolded him for jumping into
q neighbor's garden for the "ricky'
with which Beltrando and other boys
were playing. Belthrando has seen
Vanzetti in Charlestown prison and
receives letters from his friend re-
joicing in his success with his music
Beltrando is in great demand as a
violinist in Plymouth even tho he
plays no jazz. He wants to go on with
his music in Boston after he grau.
ates from high school this year.
Against Fascist.
Beltrando cannot understand how q
man so kind and thotful could be ac-
cused of the crimes for which Van
zetti was convicted. He says he real
ICES now the difference between his
school teachings and the actuality of
American justice. He participated
eagerly in a school debate in which
he argued against the Italian fascist
II asked my friends before the de
bate whether they believed in the fas
cisti," he tells, "and they said they
did. But when / asked them after
wards, they said they didn't at all any
more. l hope helped to change the
teachers attitude, too"
Vanzetti Led Strike.
.Vanzetti worked for a time in the
Plymouth Cordage Co.'S mill where
Beltrando's father has worked over
30 years. Vanzetti was a leader of
the great strike in the big cordage
and binder twine plant.
Beltrando's mother works all day in
the Puritan mill of William NJ. Woods
American Woolen Co. She leaves the
house at a. m. and returns after G
D. m. to cook dinner for the fam.
lily. which includes a younger sister,
Fora. The older girl, Lefevre, is a
young bride living nearby. Her hus-
band works at the cordage mill for
500 weekly.
Lefevre proudly shows visitors the
beautiful inlaid wood mosaic treasure
box Vanzetti sent her for her wedding
and the lovely note he wrote. She
wonders why so generous a man, one
who had been part of their family
really, should be taken for a robber
and killer. HE left his money lying
about his room," she relates. "Once
he lost a purse of 800, he was so
careless, even tho he did not have
much"
Beltrandos mother corresponds
with Vanzetti's sister in Piemonte,
Italy. The sister writes that she is
well but her heart hurts her that he
brother is still in prison in spite of
his friends four years effort to win
new trial and possible release for
him.
Father Brini goes out every Sun
day, even after working night and day
at the mill, collecting funds to help
continue the fight for sacco and for
Vanzetti
The Sacco-Vanzetti Defense Com
nafffaafc addraoo 10 No.