The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-04
MESSAGE OF DOOM
MET SILENTLY BY
SACCO, VANZETTI

journed with no action being taken.
Charles S. Smith, senior men,
ber of the council, speaking for the
entire body, praised the Governor
for Ibis able and courageous
course"
Smiths speech followed a short
explanation of his course and
the reasons for it, by Governor
Fuller.
While Sacco and Vanzetti slept,
the defense committee, which dur
ing the seven-year fight for the lives
of the two Italian laborers raised
and spent $325,000 in their behalf,
worked until daybreak on plans to
prevent the execution.
Writs Of habeas corpus will be
sought from the Superior Courts of
Massachusetts, and if those fail, the
defense committee will call on JUS
tice Brandeis of the United States
Supreme Court, now at Chatham,
Mass, to save Sacco and Vanzetti.
GUVcEHOr OOcS nOlnc
The Governor, grave, unshaven,
and haggard after long days and
nights preparing his decision on the
case, which has stirred the world
as few murder cases ever have done,
left the Statehouse last night for
his summer home at Rye Beach,
N. H.
When he was safely out of reach
Of questioning or interference, the
decision was given out. at 1880
p. m.
Mindful Of the widespread
demonstrations and acts of violence
which have punctuated the Sacco-
Vanzetti case during its seven years
before the bar, police today were
taking every precaution to prevent
any possible outbreak.
Ruling Called Brutal
Governor Fuller's decision, which
blasted hope that had been fos-
tered by the defense for six years,
was denounced as "unbelievably
brutal" by the defense committee,
in statement early today.
"The decision is unbelievably bru-
tai in its partisanship and even
more brutal in the omission of facts
not only facts brought out in the
course of the case, like the frame
up of expert testimony as shown by
the Proctor affidavit, but also facts
of the most overwhelming signifi-
canoe established behind closed
doors, both before the advisory COM
mittee and the Governor" the
statement said.
Thousands Wait In Streets
Last night was one without pre-
cedent in Boston.
For hours, thousands OF persons
crowded streets in front OF news
paper offices, waiting with the rest
of the world.
Seemingly stunned by the news,
the crowds accepted it quietly and
there were no demonstrations.
Fuller's inquiry embraced three
major questions:
/. Was the jury trial fair?
2. Were the accused entitled to
a new trial?
8. Are they guilty or not guilty?
Declares Trial Fair
II have read the record and eX-
amined many witnesses and the
jurymen to see from a layman's
standpoint whether the trial was
fairly conducted. I am convinced
that it was" he said. y
"I have examined all these mol
tions (for new triaD and read the
affidavits which supported them, to
see whether they presented any
valid reason for granting the ac-
cused men new trial. I am con-
vinced that they do not, and I fur
ther am convinced that the presid-
ing judge gave no evidence Of bias
in denying them all and refusing<a
new trial"
"The next question, and the most
vital question of all, is that of the
guilt or innocence of the accused.
In this connection I reviewed the
Bridgewater attempted holdup for
which Vanzetti previously had been
tried before another jury and found
guilty ;"
IT believe with the jury that Van
zetti was guilty and that his trial
was fair.
Agrees With Jury
"The South Braintree crime was
particularly brutal. The murder of
the paymaster (Parmenter) and the
guard (Berardelli) was not neces-
sary to the robbery. The murders
were accomplished first, the robbery
afterward"
"As result of my study Of the
record and my personal investiga-
ton of the case, including my in
terviews with large number of
witnesses, I believe, with the jury,
that Sacco and Vanzetti were guilty
and that the trial was fair"