Sacco-Vanzetti Case

Aaron Bates

Intro To Criminal Justice

Sacco-Vanzetti Case 1

The 1921 murder trial of the young Italian

immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti was one

of the most controversial trials in U.S history. For some

observers, the trial was a way to bring two criminals to

justice. For others, the two men were innocent of the crime

of robbing the shoe factory and murdering both men, the

paymaster and the security officer, but were found guilty

because they were immigrants and political radicals.

Defenders of Sacco and Vanzetti waged a fierce legal and

public relations battle to save their lives, but the men were

executed in 1927. Ref 1

The two immigrants were tried at the Supreme

Court level lasting a grueling seven weeks, where

prosecutor, Frederick G. Katzman and defense attorney,

Fred Moore cross-examined witness. Eyewitness testimony

was contradictory and was proven inaccurate. Sacco and

Vanzetti were sentenced to death after a six year long battle

trying to receive appeals that were denied by Judge

Webster Thayer time and time again, resulting in the men’s

execution in 1927.
Sacco-Vanzetti 2

Defense attorney, Fred Moore fought that the men

were innocent and that they were wrongly accused of

murder and robbery, but of merely being working men that

had immigrated to the United States to provide for their

families. Prosecutor Fredrick G. Katzman, used only

hearsay in this case, there were no actual evidence proving

the men’s guilt in this case.

There were many issues that arose during the trial, mainly

that the witnesses that were called upon were looked down

on for their poor English skills, Judge Thayer wanted

noting to do with the inconvenience and dismissed the

witnesses. Judge Thayer came back with a quick verdict of

guilt and sentenced both men to death.

Nicolo Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in

Massachusetts in 1927 for murder and robbery.

Even today this case is one of the most controversial cases

in U.S trials. Many believe that that the men did not receive

a fair trail due to bias opinions and beliefs. There was only

circumstantial evidence, which convicted the two. Their

guilt was and still is questionable even to this day because

they were not granted a new trial even after a convicted

murderer confessed to the crime committed, and also

offered inside information about the murders. Still, Judge

Thayer convicted the two men.

Sacco-Vanzetti 3
References

1) http://jrank.org/pages/19022/Sacco-Vanzetti-Case.html

2) Kadane, Joseph B., and David Schum. 1996 A Probabilistic Analysis of the
Sacco and Vanzetti Evidence New York: Wiley

3) Law.jrank.org/pages/9979/Sacco-Vanzetti-Trial.html