The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-01-16
.VANzETTI FEELS
BETTER NOW IN
STATE HOSPITAL
Mental Troubles Only
Temporary Condition

BOSTON, Mass, Jan. 15.-Bartolo.
meo Vanzetti is improving in cheer
fulness and general health at the
Bridgewater state hospital for the
criminal insane where he was sent
early this month after alienists had
pronounced him insane. vanzetti's
commitment to the Bridgewater hos.
pital came at the end of five years
he has spent in prison on framed-up
charges of highway robbery and MUIR
der.
DR.. Abraham Myerson, noted New
England alienists who examined Van
zetti at the request of the Sacco-van-
zetti defense committee states that in
his opinion Vanzetti's present mental
troubles are only temporary and were
brought on as a result Of his impris.
onment.
Has Prison Psyehosis.
Myerson's report follows in part:
az believe that vanzetti is suffering
from a prison psychosis of temporary
nature brought on by the extrsordi-
nary situation in which he, man Of
intense mental life, finds himself. The
long legal battle, the bombardment of
attention on the part of the press Of
the world, and Of international organ
izations, the impending sentence Of
death, prison discipline, confinement
with lack of outdoor exercise have
brought on a transient paranoid
state"
The two alienists for the state who
examined Vanzetti and who testified
at the hearings in court which result
ed in his commitment to the Bridge
water hospital, held it as a sign Of
Vanzetti's insanity that he believed
much Of the testimony produced at
his trial, was perjured.
Two years ago Nicola Sacco, co.
defendant with Vanzetti was sent to
the Bridgewater hospital as insane
and few months later discharged as
cured. At that time DR.. Myerson
diagnosed Sacco's condition as "pris-
on psychosis." The correctness of
that diagnosis was proven when Sacco
was pronounced sane after few
months away from the dull monotony
of jail life. Friends Of both Sacco
and Vanzetti feel confident that Van
zetti will be cured within a short
time.
DR.. William T. Hansen, medical d.
rector of the Bridgewater hospital,
has stated that vanzetti would remain
under observation in the hospital I'M
til examination had demonstrated his
recovery.
Case at standstiII.
While vanzetti is in the condition
of being in the eyes of the law, in
sane, the case against him will re-
main at stand still. However, the
case Of Sacco will be pushed by de-
tense attorneys before the state su-
preme court. They are asking for a
review of the first trial and the Or
dering of new trial. The two cases
are so closely interviewer that any
thing done on behalf of Sacco will be
for the good of Vanzetti as we'll.
The Sacco-vanzetti defense commit
tee issued the following statement on
the commitment of vanzetti to the
hospital for the criminal insane.
ut is certainly a very great shock
to us that Bartolomeo Vanzetti, whose
calm serenity inspired all Of us dur
ing the many dark days past, should
now be declared insane. The condi-
tions described by DR.. Myerson are
bad enough to break a mind OF steel
and a heart Of stone. 1t would not
therefore, be surprising If Vanzetti
after nearly FIVE years Of patient and
quiet endurance of intolerable sus-
pense has broken under the strain.
But It is no hallucination for Van
zetti to believe he did not get fair
trial; that witnesses committing per
jury; that prejudice operated against
him as a foreigner and radical work
ingman. II these are 'delusions' they
are shared by hundred Of thousands
Of workingmen everywhere. 1t is no
hallucination for Vanzetti to believe
himself in the shadow Of the electric
chair. II is grim reality The
shame is upon those who have tor
tured this gentle spirit. The shame is
upon those who knowing OF this in
Justice have remained silent. The
shame will be stamped indelibly upon
American labor II 1t does not now
raise its voice in mighty and heroic
protest against any further delay in
granting a new and speedy trial to
Sacco and vanzetti. Both OF these In
nocent workingmen have cried out
many times that they desired liberty
or death to end their painful ordeal.
Labor should answer Liberty for
Sacco and Vanzetti.'"