The Sacco and Vanzetti Case
The trial of Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti for the Braintree, Ma
ssachusetts, shoe factory robbery and murders is the most politically charged murder case in the his
tory of America. On April 15,1920, a paymaster and his guard were carrying a factory payroll of $15,
776 through the main street of South Braintree, Massachusetts. Two men standing by a fence suddenly
pulled out guns and fired on them. The gunmen snatched up the cash boxes dropped by the mortally w
ounded officers and jumped into a waiting automobile. On the evening of May 5, 1920, a police trap
that had been set for a suspect in the Braintree crime, two Italians, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Va
nzetti, were obtained. Both originally were not under any suspicion; however, both men were carryin
g guns at the time of their capture. When questioned by the authorities, they lied. As a result th
ey were held for the South Braintree crimes. Earlier, Vanzetti was also charged with a holdup attem
pt that had taken place on December 24, 1919, in the nearby town of Bridgewater. The arrest of Sacco
and Vanzetti had concurred with the period of the most intense political repression, the "Red Scare
." While neither Sacco nor Vanzetti had any previous criminal record, they were long recognized by
their communities as anarchists. Their trial latest roughly six weeks and the jury found Sacco and
Vanzetti guilty of robbery and murder on July 14,1921. In an attempt to gain a new trial, their de
fense made many appeals, and petitions to both state and federal courts. This merely delayed these
proceedings until 1927. Their lawyer, Moore, decided it was not possible to defend Sacco and Vanzet
ti against the criminal charges of murder and robbery. Instead, he would try to expose the prosecut
ion for judging them solely on being anarchists. On April 9, 1927, after all attempts in the Massac
husetts courts had failed, Sacco and Vanzetti were sentenced to death. Many observers believed that
their conviction resulted from prejudice against them as Italian immigrants and because they held r
adical political beliefs. In 1925 Celestino Madeiros, a leader of a well-known gang, confessed to be
ing a member of the gang that killed the two officers. He also named four other men who had taken p
art in the robbery. However, the authorities refused to investigate the confession made by Madeiros
. sacco vanzetti case trial nicola sacco bartolomeo vanzetti braintree massachusetts shoe factory ro
bbery murders most politically charged murder case history america april paymaster guard were carryi
ng factory payroll through main street south braintree massachusetts standing fence suddenly pulled
guns fired them gunmen snatched cash boxes dropped mortally wounded officers jumped into waiting aut
omobile evening police trap that been suspect braintree crime italians nicola sacco bartolomeo vanze
tti were obtained both originally were under suspicion however both carrying guns time their capture
when questioned authorities they lied result they held south crimes earlier also charged with holdu
p attempt that taken place december nearby town bridgewater arrest concurred with period most intens
e political repression scare while neither previous criminal record they long recognized their commu
nities anarchists their trial latest roughly weeks jury found guilty robbery murder july attempt gai
n trial defense made many appeals petitions both state federal courts this merely delayed these proc
eedings until lawyer moore decided possible defend against criminal charges murder robbery instead w
ould expose prosecution judging them solely being anarchists april after attempts massachusetts cour
ts failed sentenced death many observers believed that conviction resulted from prejudice against th
em italian immigrants because held radical political beliefs celestino madeiros leader well known ga
ng confessed being member gang killed officers also named four other taken part however authorities
refused investigate confession made madeirosEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term p
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