August 23, 1927 The San Diego Union

The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year.

Tuesday, August 23, 1927

In 1927, amid worldwide protests, Italian-born anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Boston for a 1920 shoe factory payroll holdup in which two men were killed.

Many observers believed that Sacco and Vanzetti were not given a fair trial because of the anti-immigrant sentiment pervasive at the time.

In 1977 — 50 years after the controversial executions — Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis issued a proclamation that the trial was unfair, and that "any stigma" should be removed for the names of the two and their families.

Here are the first few paragraphs of the story:

SACCO, VANZETTI ELECTROCUTED

RADICALS DIE GAME AFTER SEVEN YEARS OF COURT BATTLES

‘Long Live Anarchy,’ One Red Slayer Shouts as He Enters Death Chamber; Other Calmly Shakes Hands with Guards, Again Protesting Innocence

(Universal Service)

STATE PRISON, BOSTON, Mass., Aug. 23. — (Tuesday morning) — Sacco and Vanzetti died game. Both made a speech to the death chamber just before they were electrocuted this morning.

“Long live anarchy,” shouted Sacco in Italian after he entered the chamber.

Then, without any instructions, he sat down in the chair and said in broken English: "Farewell to my wife an children, and all my friends.”

As the straps were being applied, he added:

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

He was speaking to the official witnesses.

The, “Farewell, mother.”

That was his last.

Vanzetti Protests His Innocence

Vanzetti made a longer talk in which he protested his innocence. He was cool and collected. As he entered the death chamber he shook hands with his guards.

Then he sat down in the chair without any instructions and said: “I wish to tell you I am innocent and never committed a crime but sometimes a sin. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am innocent of all crime—not only of this one but of all crimes. I am an innocent man.”

Here he paused. The traps were being applied. Then he added: “I wish to forgive some people for what they are now doing to me.” Thus Vanzetti’s last words were those of forgiveness to those he had considered his enemies.

Celestine Madeiros, who also was executed here this morning for another murder, preceded Sacco and Venzetti to the chair.

He seemed to be in a stupor and said nothing.

Warden Hendry gave the signal for the execution. Robert C. Elliottt, the executioner, was standing at the switch and caught the fist signal instantly. He pushed the switch in with a firm hand. The lights went dim.

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