Evening star., 1960-07-24

1t gives the other side, tn
can cause celebre.
The author, a Massach
Harvard Law School (cum
laude), recites the evidence
on both sides, describes the
trial. He then contends that
Sacco and Vanzetti had a
fair trial and, beyond a rea-
sonable doubt, were guilty.
Mr.. Montgomery's conclu-
sions probably will be viewed
as a major heresy by every
one whose political stance is
a degree to the left and by a
lot of others who have heard
the conviction and execution
of the two Italian immi-
grants described as a wan
ton injustice.
I've heard persons, not a
few either, who obviously
knew nothing about the
case, were not sure who
Sacco and Venzetti were or
what crime was charged to
them, say it was awful that
such a thing could happen.
A Complex Case
I do not presume to say,
after reading Mr.. MonJgom-
ery's book, whether I think
the accused men were in
nocent or guilty. 1t would be
hard for anyone who has
not studied the case as
closely as the author has to
reach a conclusion after
nearly 40 years Of propa-
ganda, recrimination and
reckless charges. I merely
maintain that Mr.. Mont
gomery is entitled to a hear
ing.
His book, further, is a
fascinating re-aSsembling of
everything that went into a
case which already has found
a place in American folklore.
Some lawyers might have
smothered the story in legal
verbiage, but Mr.. Montgom-
cry has written it for the
layman, clearly, even ex-
citingly.
For those who have a
vague idea of the famous
case-perhapS a majority of
the prese generation -
Nicola Sacco, a cutter in shoe
factories, and Bartolomeo
Vanzetti a fish ped dler
mostly, lived in towns in
the perimeter of Boston in
1920. They were friends and
regarded themselves as phi
loSophical anarchists. Both
had gone to Mexico to escape
the draft in World War 1.
Their associates were radi-
Gals Of various sorts.
Story Of Crime
On April is, 1920, a shoe
factory paymaster in South
Braintree and his guard,
carrying the payroll, were
shot down and killed by ban
dts who escaped in a car.
Sacco and Vanzetti were
arrested May 5 at a house
in West Bridgewater.
But before they were tried
for this crime Vanzetti was
tried alone for a thwarted
holdup which had occurred
the previous December in
Bridgewater. A payroll was
being carried in a truck
when three men got out of a
parked car and started firing.
The driver and paymaster
returned the fire. No one
was hurt, and the bandits
retreated without the loot.
Vanzetti was convicted OF
taking part in this holdup
and sentenced to IL to 20
years. Sacco was not charged
in this case. He and Sacco
were not placed on trial for
the South Braintree mur-
ders until May 81, 1921.
The outcry about the
"railroading" Of these Ital-
ians was not raised when
Vanzetti was tried. 1t did
not occur until after Sacco
and Vanzetti were indicted.
Then Carlo Tresca, a noto-
rious anarchist of the era,
took over the defense and
spread the word through
radical and left-wing labor
papers. Liberals in general
took up the cause and it still
remains dear to them.
Red Scare of 1920
1t was contended that
Sacco and Vanzetti were
tried at a time when a Red
scare was sweeping the
country and the Department
of Justice was raiding labor
meetings and there was hys-
terra over the country. But
it is forgotten sometimes that
there was some basis for this
fright. A lot of bombs had
been mailed the previous
year. One had mangled a
maid in the home of ex-
Senator Tom Hardwick of
Georgia and another had