The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-06-23
(Contlnued from page u

LeaVenworth prisons. Weeks is lifer
in Charleston prison, where Vanzetti
is. He was not in the South Braintree
crime himself.
How Madeiros Told Sacco.
Madeiros is waiting the outcome Of
his third appeal for new trial. He
has twice been convicted Of murder
ing Wrentham bank clerk, but has
another appeal on a technicality pend
ing before the supreme court of Mass
achusetts. He is at Dedham Jail,
where Sacco is finishing his sixth
year. Last November, Madeiros sent
Sacco a note in a magazine that he
and another gang committed the
South Braintree job and not Sacco
and Vanzetti. Sacco was at first sus-
picious of the note, since so many
provocative efforts have been tried on
him. But Attorney Thompson inter-
viewed Madeiros and later secured his
signed confession. Madeiros adds to
the typewritten affidavit in his own
hand that he knows the last names of
the gang members involved, but that
he refuses to give them.
Policeman Signs Affidavit.
One of the defense afidavits is
made by New Bedford policeman
Richard Jacobs, who observed mem
bers of the Morelli gang on the April
1920, date of the South Braintree jot
and subsequently investigated thei-
activities in support of his suspicion;
that they did the crime. Jacobs say
he dropped his inquiries when SAGE
and Vanzetti were arrested. Anothe.
affidavit which Thompson is working
to secure, suggested by some already
obtained, will show that Joe Morelli
tried to get Atlanta prisoners to alibi
him for the South Braintree date after
The Sacco-Vanzetti defense, attorney
At the time, Fred H. Moore. had had
his assistants interview prisoners in
hat federal prison. Joe was moved
10 Athens, Ca, and finally to Leaven
worth, Kans., when prisoners threaten.
ID his life.
Not a small part Of the nearly
100000 spent for the defense Of
;acco and Vanzetti was expended in
he extensive investigation under
AIKEN by Moore to find the real Grim
mails. Data secured by Moore is now
being used by Thompson. Moore,
without the aid Of Madeiros' confess
sion, came very near to discovering
the guilty gang. From Madeiros' con-
fession the trail has led out in so
many directions that can be checked
for accuracy that the proving Of Sacco
and Vanzetti innocent by showing up
the real thieves and murderers is
much facilitated.
Madeiros' Story Checked.
Madeiros tells in detail, much of
which has been checked, how the rob-
berry of Slater &c Morrill, shoe fac
tory's payroll in South Braintree was
accomplished, with the accompanying
murders of the two payroll guards
Madeiros' part was to sit in the rear
Of the machine with gun and ward
off attacks of bystanders, if neces-
sary. He claims he got scared after
the crime was committed and shot
nobody. He was a youth Of IS or 10
at the time. The blonde, pasty-faced,
thin gangster who drove the car has
since been killed at Narragansett
Pier, Thompson says. Two cars were
used by the gang-both stolen cars
with stolen number plates.
Thompson for Finish Fight.
Thompson told Judge Thayer that
he had played fair with the state by
showing the district attorneys office
the affidavits supporting the new trial
motion. He remarked that the prose-
eution had not replied with the same
courtesy.
IF l am right, as believe am,
that these men-Sacco and Vanzetti-
are innocent, I'm going to press to
he bitter end to prove it, no matter
how much personal inconvenience It
Is to me-" Thompson exclaimed to the
court. He explained that he has not
previously handled criminal cases and
had not expected to have to do Grim
Inal Investigation in this case, bu'
that he would see 1t thru, and asked
for the moderate allowance OF two
weeks to complete his inquiries.
Judge is Badly Shaken.
Judge Webster Thayer, yellow and
deathly pale, ghostly thin, with head
and voice shaking, allowed the time
asked. After nursing his anti.alien,
anti-sacco and Vanzetti prejudice so
long It is hard for Judge Thayer to
have TO look at facts. He may be
afraid. II he turns down this final
motion for a new trial for these two
innocent workers he will have to ex-
ert himself strenuousE to make his
denial plausible in comparison with
the defense case.
Thayer Speaks OF New Law.
Thayer said that the public did not
seem to know that Massachusetts, law
now permits the defense in capital
cases to file motions for a new trial
any time before sentencing. Assist
ant District Attorney Ranney had said
that the public was impatient, think