The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-08-08
Judge Thayer, Before Whom
Conviction Was Won, to
Hear Arguments.
COOLIDGE AID IS URGED
Writ Of HabeaS Corpus Is
Refused; Petition Placed
Up to Fuller.
BY HENRY MINoTT
ed Press stan Correspondent

AhNsa 0AAh AOIFtAuOnufnt
BOSTON, Aug. 8.-Seven years
after 1t began in Dedham as the
obscure murder trial Of two obscure
Italians, the Sacco-V -Vanzetti case
shifted again today to the county
court there.
This time, the eyes Of the entire
civilized world were upon it.
Counsel for the two anarchists.
condemned to die early Thursday
morning, prepared an almost de-
spairing move to stay the execu-
ton.
The scene for the argument on
their motion for a new trial was In
the court where Nicola Sacco and
Bartolomeo Vanzetti were convicted
OF the murder Of paymaster and
his guard; where four appeals for
a new trial had been denied; and
where the death sentence had been
imposed last April.
Before Thayer Again
1t was set before Judge Webster
Thayer, who convicted them and
denied all their moves for retrial
Judge Thayer arrived at Dedham
courthouse shortly before 2 D. m,
guarded by several State troopers
and policemen.
The elderly judge, clad in a light
gray suit, stepped from his automo-
bile and walked spryly up the steps
OF the courthouse.
The motion for a new trial Is
based on eight affidavits, six of
which charge Judge Thayer with
prejudice at the trial. Because of
the nature Of the affidavits, defense
counsel asked that another Judge
be assigned to hear the motion, but
the request was declined.
Judge Thayer was summoned from
his vacation in Maine to hear the
reading of the evidence against him
and decide If his conduct at the
trial warrants new trial.
Little Hope Held
Apparently having little hope that
Judge Thayer would reverse his
attitude after his persistent refusals
to reconsider the case, the defense
was ready to play the few remaining
cards in its hands.
Defense attorneys lost a prelim-
mary skirmish in their legal battle
to save the anarchists when Justice
George A. Sanderson of Mas iachu-
setts Supreme Court dismissed a pc
tition for a writ OF habeas corpus.
He also denied writ of error.
Governor Fuller indicated this
afternoon that he would not act
on Sacco and Vanzetti's petition for
another respite until pending court
action in the case had been COM
pleted.
The Sacco- -Vanzetti defense COM
mittee today wired a personal ap-
peal to President Coolidge, asking
him to intervene.
United States Department Involved
Executive action was requested
because of the relation OF the Fed
eral Government to the Sacco-Van-
zetti case through the United States
Department Of Justice"
The telegram referred to the
precedent established by the late
President Wilson In the Mooney
case, in California.
II the efforts in State courts fall,
the defense will switch to the Fed
eral courts, first with habeas
corpus motion before District Judge
George w. Anderson, then with a
petition for a writ Of certiorari be-
fore Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
Of the United States Supreme Court.
Police broke up meeting of 10000
Sacco- -Vanzetti sympathizers on
Boston Commons yesterday. The
permit for the meeting was
because Of fear Of trouble.
Edward Horton James, nephew OF
the late novelist, Henry James, was
sentenced to ninety days in fail
after his conviction in municipal
court today on charges of assault
Ing two policemen, at this meeting.
The jail sentence was imposed at
the request of the defendant, who
told the court he preferred to work
out such a sentence rather than