Evening star., 1927-08-23


times some SIM thank you. Mr.. War
den, for everything you have done for
me. l am innocent of all crime, not
only this one, but all. / am an inno-
cent man."
vanzetti had been convicted after
the Braintree murder of a robbery,
while armed, committed in Bridge
water a short time before.
As the final straps, those which held
the head in place, were being adjusted,
he gave final message of forgiveness.
'I wish to forgive some people for
what they are now doing to me-" he
said simply. He entered at 12:20.3S and
was dead at 12:26.55.
Through seven years Of repeated ef-
forts to save them, Sacco and Van
zetti protested their innocence of the
shoe factory pay roll robbery of which
they were convicted. They maintained
that it was their radical beliefs and
activities which had brought upon
them the persecution" of the authori-
ties.
The shoe worker, Sacco, and the
fish peddler, VanZetti, soon became
known in many lands as the defense
committee organized and collected
hundreds of thousands of dollars,
~No~~
talent to fight the case, but also for
extensive propaganda.
Both bore fruit. Counsel succeeded
counsel. but the fight went on until
eight motions for a new trial had been
argued and the Massachusetts Su-
preme Court had three times been
asked to pass upon exceptions. Even
after sentence had been pronounced
last April there remained the review
of the whole case conducted by Gov.
Aivan T. Fuller and his advisory
committee, consisting of President A.
Lawrence Lowell of Harvard, Presi-
dent Samuel w Stratton of Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology, and
RoDert Grant, former probate judge.
Meanwhile from many countries
and from individuals OF high and low
estate came protests that injustice
was being done or asking mercy. But
there were also messages which de-
nanded that the men pay the pen
atty for their crime.
Miss Luigia Nanzetti. sister of Bar.
tolomeo, who came from his native
village IN Italy TO be near him during
the last few days, and Mrs. Rose
Sacco, who has been constant in her
attentions to her husband. spent the
night in an apartment on Beacon Hill
within two blocks Of the State House.
The bodies OF Sacco and VanZetti
were removed shortly after the execu.
ton to a mortuary, where autopsies
were performed by DR.. George B
Magrath, medical examiner. The au-
thorities decided TO turn the bodies
over to the Sacco-Vanzetti defense
committee. No announcement has yet
been made OF burial plans. The body
of Madeiros will be taken to New Bed
ford for burial.
Following the law of the State, the
executions were witnessed by Warden
Hendry Of the State prison; Sheriff
Samuel Capen Of Norfolk County. In
which the crime was committed; DR.
Magrath and Surg. Gen. +. p. vii
hams, official physicians; w. L. Play
fair of the Associated Press, officia
representative of all the press. and
DR.. Howard A. Lothrops and DIR. VIII
liam Otis Faxon, as guests OF the
warden. All four physicians examined
each man to make certain that the
sentences had been executed.
Inside and out of the prison walls
stood a small army Of police. armed
with a variety of weapons, ready fol
possible demonstrations which did no
,Inaterialize. Two hours after the exc
buttons there was little to be seen t.
Indicate that drama had been enacted