New Britain herald., 1927-08-04

abandoned the strike from which
he appeared to have suffered no
serious effects.
While in the Boston institution
Sacco attempted suicide by striking
his head against a piece of furni-
ture. Only slight wound was in
flicted. The alienists on March 81.
1928, declared him sane. and he
was recommitted to the Dedham
Jail.
In December. 1924. the question
OF Vanzetti's sanity was brought UP.
In January, 1925, he was taken to
the Bridgewater state hospital for
observation. He was found sane in
April of that year and was returned
TO the state prison.
Moore withdrew as counsel for
the two men in November, 1924.
and Thomas F. and n. j. McNarney.
who had been associated with him.
withdrew a month later. William
G.. Thompson of Boston was en-
gagged as counsel to argue before
the Massachusetts supreme court
an appeal from Judge Thayers re-
fusal of new trial.
Celestino Madeiros entered the
case in January, 1926. Madeiros
was in the state prison, under SEN
tence of death for the murder of
James E. Carpenter. Wrentham
bank cashier, in November, 1924.
In a lengthy statement he asserted
that members of the "Morelli
gang" OF Providence. r. l.. with
which he had been associated. COM
mitted the South Braintree murders
and that Sacco and Vanzetti had
nothing to do with the shooting.
On the basis of this statement
defense counsel filed further motions
for new trial, which were denied
by Judge Thayer In October, 1926.
On the representation that he might
be needed as a witness, Madeiros
thrice was granted respites before
the Massachusetts, supreme court
which previously had overruled eX-
ceptions to Judge Thayer's refusal
to grant new trial on other
grounds, finally on April 5, 1921.
upheld his decision on the Madieros
motions.
On April 3, sacco and Vanzetti
were taken to the Dedham court
house and sentenced by Judge
Thayer to die in the electric chair
at the state prison in the week of
July 10. In the court room both
made dramatic pleas, asserting their
innocence. They openly accused the
Judge of prejudice and of influence
ing the jury against them.
Then Governor Alvan T. Fuller
became the center of interest in the
case. His office was deluged with
letters, kilograms and cablegrams
from all parts of the world. The
majority of these communications,
which came from persons of all
classes including many clergymen
and college professors, urged the
governor either to pardon the two
men, commute their sentences or
appoint committee of citizens to
make an impartial Investigation into
the whole case. Some of them, how
ever, asked him not to interfere
with the courts decree. Occasion
ally there came a threat Of vio-
lence.
In due course, counsel for the
condemned men carried petitions to
the governor, asking his interven-
ton. In a long, written plea, Van
Zetti asked not for a pardon" but
for Justice" Sacco refused to sign
the petition in his behalf and Mr..
Thompson, in filing the plea for
clemency, explained that he felt
the long nervous strain had brought
about a mental attitude for which
Sacco was not altogether respon-
sible. An alienist indicated that he
found Sacco abnormal in certain re-
spects, and the governor was asked
to consider the plea, even if Sacco
had refused to sign it,
Accompanying the petition of the
counsel for the defense were five
affidavits by newspaper writer's who
had been assigned to the trial, and
others, who affirmed that Judge
Thayer during the trial, had spoken
outside the court room in language
that showed he was prejudiced
against the defendants.
The governor began personal in
vestigation into the case. On June l
he announced that he had appoint
ed an advisory committee to make
a separate investigation. This COM
mittee was composed of President
A. Lawrence Lowell Of Harvard
University, President Samuel w.
Stratton of the Massachusetts Inst-
tute Of Technology and former
Judge Robert Grant of the probate
court, who also was widely known
as an author.
On June 90, with the approval of
the executive council. Governor
Fuller granted respite to Sacco,
NanZetti and Madeiros ito and In
Guiding August TO- In a statement
he said this was done for the rea-
son that the task of reviewing the
evidence and record approximately