[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—The views expressed by
the Spectator and by most of the other leading London reviews and newspapers on the Sacco-Vanzetti case seem to such of us as have studied it carefully, and are thoroughly familiar with all its details, unfriendly, unfortunate, and unjust.
To many of us who have always believed in the love of justice and instinct and fair play of educated Englishmen it can be explained in only one way. We are convinced that you have been misinformed by false and poisonous propaganda, for the Nation and the New Republic, two Radical
weeklies, have grossly misrepresented the facts of the case and its merits.
In my great desire to promote friendship and understanding between England and-America, I submit the• enclosed papers for your careful consideration and hope that you will find them as convincing as I have that the defendants had a fair trial and were-properly convicted.
(a) The findings of Governor Fuller, who, because of the great importance of the case and his desire to solve for himself the two questions of fair trial and guilt, made an independent
investigation with the aid of his personal counsel, a man of sound common sense and legal ability. This investigation lasted for weeks, during which he examined ten out of the surviving eleven of the jurors, all the witnesses, the prisoners themselves and Madeiros, who claimed that he and his gang committed the murder. (b) The full report of the Advisory Committee, -consisting of A. Lawrence Lowell, President of Harvard University,.
Judge Robert Grant, and Samuel S. Stratton, President of the Institute of Technology, who at the request of Governor Fuller and as a stern but disagreeable public duty, made a very full and independent investigatiOn of the case. Of these, Lowell and Grant are lawyers of large experience'.
The Government closed their case without . introducing evidence that the defendants were anarchists, but their counsel, seeing their case was desperate, insisted on 'intro- ducing such evidence, although the judge advised against k. The result was that anarchists, Communists,'Nihilists, and Radicals in this and other countries at once raised. a large fund, put it in the hands of a "Defence Committee," and, spending part of it in propaganda and part of it in employing counsel for the prisoners, have caused all the delays -Which have ensued, except for a short • delay caused by the illness of Judge Thayer.
One lawyer after another has made eight motions for a new trial before the judge and, on his refusal, has taken the case four times to the Suprenie Court of Appeal. Most of these motions were utterly frivolous and intended only for delay.
I- have so much confidence in your determination to be fair and absolutely accurate in a matter of such world-wide interest that I ask you to have these various papers read and carefully considered by a competent member of your • staff in the hope that you will see fit to revise the opinions yois have thus far editorially expressed.--I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
