Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-14
VANzETTI AND :
SACCO IN new MOVE
TO DODGE DEATH

Dedham, Mass, Sept. 13-[ReThe
1--WE year struggle to save the lives
Of Nicola Sacco and Bartolorneo Van
zetti. convicted Of murder in 1921,
entered on q new phase today. In
Norfolk superior ccourt Judge Web
ster Thayer, who presided at the
trial. began a hearing on q new mo-
ton for retrial. based on confession
made by Celestino Madeiros, con-
demned murderer, absolving Sacco
and Vanzetti.
Madeira, now awaiting execution
for the murder Of James Carpenter,
aged cashier Of the Wrentham Ma
tional bank, made sworn state
ment in Dedham jail that he took
part in a payroll robbery In South
Braintree In 1920 in which pay
master and guard were killed. It
was for this crime that Sacco and
Vanzetti were tried. William G.
Thompson, chief defense counsel,
presented an affidavit today relating
to Madeiros' admissions.
IF my personal confession 10 not
sufficient to free Sacco and Vanzet-
ii, I can do no more" the attorney
quoted Madeiros as saying. II will
not implicate my associates"
The reading of 63 aff1davits pre-
scented by the defense with the new
trial motion was not completed to-
day. It was believed that the hear
ing would consume three days and
the state will present 81 affidavits in
rebuttal. Because of judge Thayer's
recent illness, and to rest the counsel
quent brief respites were taken
today.
The sworn statements presented
today covered a wide field, many
dealing with the alleged activities of
the "Morelli gang" Of Providence.
with which Madeiros had claimed to
be associated. Among those whose
affidavits were read were former
United States Marshal John J. Rich
ards of Providence, several of his
deputies, postal inspectors and de-
partment of justice agents who
worked on cases in which Joe Morelli
and his associates were implicated.
Manuel Pacheco of New Bedford,
now serving sentence in the
Charlestown state prison, swore that
he had known Maderios for several
years and that Maderios had told
him he knew all the Morelli gang
and had done several stick-up jobs
with them" Pacheco said that when
he first knew Madeiros the latter was
a collector for charitable organ
ization and lived in Providence. In
other aff1davits the defense empha-
sized Madeiros' record as a charity
worker.
Two Brockton women, Mrs. Louise
Hayes Kelly and Mrs. Minnie Ken
nedy, were among those whose state
ments were read. The women said
they had seen the murder car" used
by the South Braintree bandits,
standing near the shoe factory in
which they were employed in 1920.
They said they had observed the
driver over period of half an hour
and had been unable to identify him
by photographs shown them by the
government. The women said that
photographs of Madeiros later shown
to them bore a strong resemblance
to the driver, although the pictures
showed a somewhat plumper man.
James F. Weeks, otherwise known
as Croft, confederate of AIadeiros
in the Wrentham bank murder, and
now serving life sentence in state
prison, swore that Madeiros claimed
intimacy with the Morelli gang of
Providence.
Weeks said Madeiros often talked
about the Sacco- Vanzetti case, say
ing that the defendants had plenty
of money to get out with. but that if
they ever were convicted he would
come to the front before he would
see them go to the chair"