THE CASE OF SACCO AND VANZETTI
One of the most sensational murder trials in United States history took place in Massachusetts in 1921. Although the defendants were convicted and later executed, the results of the trial aroused worldwide protests. On April 15, 1920, during a payroll robbery at a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts, the company paymaster, F.A. Parmenter, and the guard, Alessandro Berardelli, were shot to death. On May 5, two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested and charged with the crime. The fact that both were armed at the time made them prime suspects. In addition, both were known to not only have dodged the draft in World War One, but also for being political radicals and anarchists. A storm of protest arose. A committee headed by A. Lawrence Lowell, president of Harvard University, issued a report in August 1927 stating that the trial had been fair. With the issuance of the report and with Governor AT Fuller's refusal to grant clemency, protests increased. Benito Mussolini, premier of Italy, made a special plea for their lives. Demonstrations were held in major cities. Bombs were set off in New York City and Philadelphia. All the protest was to no avail as Sacco and Vanzetti were both executed by electrocution on August 23, 1927.
In the 1970s however, Vincent Teresa, a former member of the Mafia, declared in his autobiography that Sacco and Vanzetti had not been involved in the South Braintree killings. He said the actual guilty parties were members of a gang of Italian-American criminals. The case has strongly affected many artists. American composer Marc Blitzstein was working on his major opera "Sacco and Vanzetti" at the time of his death. The artist Ben Shahn's first major success was with his 23 satirical paintings based on the trial and execution of Sacco and Vanzetti, which were exhibited in New York City in 1933, and these brought him instant acclaim.
One of the most sensational murder trials in United States history took place in Massachusetts in 1921. Although the defendants were convicted and later executed, the results of the trial aroused worldwide protests. On April 15, 1920, during a payroll robbery at a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts, the company paymaster, F.A. Parmenter, and the guard, Alessandro Berardelli, were shot to death. On May 5, two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were arrested and charged with the crime. The fact that both were armed at the time made them prime suspects. In addition, both were known to not only have dodged the draft in World War One, but also for being political radicals and anarchists. A storm of protest arose. A committee headed by A. Lawrence Lowell, president of Harvard University, issued a report in August 1927 stating that the trial had been fair. With the issuance of the report and with Governor AT Fuller's refusal to grant clemency, protests increased. Benito Mussolini, premier of Italy, made a special plea for their lives. Demonstrations were held in major cities. Bombs were set off in New York City and Philadelphia. All the protest was to no avail as Sacco and Vanzetti were both executed by electrocution on August 23, 1927.
In the 1970s however, Vincent Teresa, a former member of the Mafia, declared in his autobiography that Sacco and Vanzetti had not been involved in the South Braintree killings. He said the actual guilty parties were members of a gang of Italian-American criminals. The case has strongly affected many artists. American composer Marc Blitzstein was working on his major opera "Sacco and Vanzetti" at the time of his death. The artist Ben Shahn's first major success was with his 23 satirical paintings based on the trial and execution of Sacco and Vanzetti, which were exhibited in New York City in 1933, and these brought him instant acclaim.
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Дело Сакко и ВанцеттиОдно из самых сенсационных судебных разбирательств в истории Соединённых Штатов проходило в Массачусеттсе в 1921 году. Хотя подсудимые были признаны виновными и позже казнены, решение суда вызвало протесты по всему миру. 5 апреля 1920 года во время кражи денег на обувной фабрике в Саут-Брейнтри, Массачусеттс, кассир компании Ф.А. Парментер и охранник Алессадро Берарделли, были застрелены. 5 мая были арестованы и обвинены в преступлении двое итальянских эмигрантов - Никола Сакко и Бартоломео Ванцетти. Тот факт, что оба были вооружены, сделал их главными подозреваемыми. Более того, оба они были известны не только как уклонисты от призыва во время Первой мировой войны, но и как политические радикалы и анархисты. Протесты нарастали. Комитет, возглавляемый А. Лоуренсом Лоуэллом, президентом Гарвардского университета, выпустил отчёт в августе 1927 года, где говорилось, что суд был справедливым. После выхода этого заключения и отказа губернатора Фуллера в амнистии протесты лишь усилились. Бенито Муссолини, премьер-министр Италии, написал специальное прошение о помиловании и отмене смертной казни. Во многих крупных городах прошли демонстрации. В Нью-Йорке и Филадельфии были заложены бомбы. Однако все эти протесты ни к чему не привели, и Сакко и Ванцетти были казнены на электрическом стуле 23 августа 1927 года.
Однако в 1970 годах Винцент Тереза, бывший член мафии, заявил в своей автобиографии, что Сакко и Ванцетти не имели никакого отношения к убийствам в Саут-Брейнтри. Он написал, что реальными виновниками были члены итало-американской преступной группировки. Этот случай произвёл огромное впечатление на многих деятелей культуры и искусства. Американский композитор Марк Блицштейн работал над своей главной оперой "Сакко и Ванцетти" до самой своей смерти. К художнику Бен Шану первый успех пришёл благодаря его 23 сатирическим рисункам, повествующим о суде и казни Сакко и Ванцетти, которые выставлялись в Нью-Йорке в 1933 году. Они в одночасье принесли ему признание.
Тем не менее, в 1970-х гг. Винсент Тереза, бывший член мафии, заявил в своей автобиографии, что Сакко и Ванцетти не были вовлечены в убийства в Саут-Брейнтри. Он сказал, что действительно виновными сторонами были члены банды итальяно-американских преступников. Этот случай сильно повлиял на многих художников. Американский композитор Марк Блицштейн работал над своей наиболее значимой оперой «Сакко и Ванцетти» на момент своей смерти. Первый крупный успех художника Бена Шана состоялся с его 23 сатирическими картинами по мотивам судебного процесса и казни Сакко и Ванцетти, которые были выставлены в Нью-Йорке в 1933 году, и они принесли ему мгновенную известность.