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Italian Anarchist Activist and Martyr of the State
: Sacco and Vanzetti feared the draft during World War I and in objection fled to Mexico with Sacco's family. When the war ended both returned to their homes. After they returned the two became more active in the anarchist community. (From: Anarchy Archives.)
• "So I turn over towards the soldiers and I said, 'Brothers, you will not fire on your own brothers, because they tell you to fire; no, brothers, remember that everyone of us has has mother and child, and you know that we fight for the freedom which is your freedom.'" (From: Letters of Sacco and Vanzetti.)
• "...when a man remains all day long back of these sad bars you feel your mind sometime very tired and exhausted of ideas..." (From: Letters of Sacco and Vanzetti.)
• "It is very true indeed, what you are saying -- that we can never be good and well again for the future -- as we want to be. No, I guess not: we can never get back that old young energy again, because of these dolorous long years of confinement..." (From: Letters of Sacco and Vanzetti.)
Letters written in 1921-June 1927 in Dedham Jail
November 30, 1921. Dedham Jail
DEAR BARTOLO:
Saturday the 26th my Rosie and the children came to visit me, and this
was the first time I seen the children since the time you left Dedham.
You can imagine how happy I felt to see them so joyful and so gay and in
the best of health, if only you could see little Ines. She got so
fat, she is really a dolly, Dante also looks very good. He writes
to me every week. Rosa also looks very good after the operation she
is gaining daily. I feel very good and I don't do nothing but exercise,
read and write. I am very sorry that no one comes and see you, no
one comes to see me neither, but Rosie . . .
[Rosie and Rosa refer to Sacco’s wife Rosina. Ines and Dante
are Sacco's young children. Bartolo refers to Vanzetti.]
October, 1923. County Jail, Dedham
DEAR MRS. EVANS
You never can imagine how much it was great the joy of the recluse
when I see in that court room all the noble legion of our friends and comrades,
which they are work hard for forty-one month for the triumph of that consecration
and inviolable of the human justicy and for the liberty of Sacco and Vanzetti.
By the way, my dear mother, you believe we will have a new trial?
I am tol you the truth Mrs. Evans, I did like very much the way Mr. Thompson
and Mr. Hill they did present the new evidence, and for some moment they
did relief the soul of the sad recluse. If you happen to see Mr.
Thompson and Mr. Hill give for me my dear and best rigard and for the splendor
defense they have made. So I will hope they will finish this long
and dolorus calvary.
Meanwhile salute fraternally all our friends and comrades, and you
dear mother of the human oppressed have one of my warin affectionate embrace
from your now and for ever friend and comrade, Nicola Sacco.
[Mrs. Evans refers to Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, a supporter of Sacco’s
and Vanzetti’s who was long convinced of their innocence. Mr. Thompson
refers to William G. Thompson, Sacco and Vanzetti’s appellate counsel.
Mr. Hill refers to Mr. Arthur D. Hill, an attorney who also worked on Sacco
and Vanzetti’s behalf after Thompson retired.]
November 23, 1923. Dedham Jail
DEAR MRS. EVANS:
Of course, I will try to read aloud for your sake, and for my own.
Of course, I will try to satisfy as best I can that generous mother who
for three years has done everything she could for my soul and the soul
of my poor family. I begin to read aloud from the day you and Mrs.
William James came to see me. I don't read very loud, so as not to
disturb anybody. So you see I always try to do the best I could.
Yesterday all the prisoners went out in the yard for two hours because
of T'hanksgiving Day, and when I come in I feel a little hunger, but when
I don't have much air I don't feel hunger at all. So I need air,--air,
just as much air as I can have.
I always remember when my brother Sabino and me were on ship board
on the way to this free country, the country that was always in my dreams.
I was very sic of the seas and one morning my brother conducted me to the
Doct and he order for me a good purge and for my brother that felt fine
he ordered a good soup. . .
So that is just the same here. The prisoner who don't like to
work, they send him to work, and who really feels like work and need to
have air, air, just as much air as he can, they keep him in a cell all
day long.
[Sabino refers to Sacco’s brother Sabino Sacco with whom Nicola emigrated
to the United States. Mrs. William James was a supporter of Sacco’s
and Vanzetti’s whose husband wrote a series of books titled "Psychology"
of which Sacco read the first volume in prison.]
February 26, 1924. Dedham Jail
MY DEAR FRIEND MRS. JACK:
. . . Every night when the light goes out I take a long walk and
really I do not know how long I walk, because the most of the time I forget
myself to go to sleep, and so I continue to walk and I count, one, two,
three, four steps and turn backward and continue to count, one, two, three
four and so on. But between all this time my mind it is always so
full of ideas that one gos and one comes. . . I find one of my mostly
beautiful remembrance while I am thinking and walking, frequently I stop
to my window cell and through those sad bars I stop and look at the nature
into crepuscular of night, and the stars in the beauti blue sky.
So last night the stars they was moor bright and the sky it was moor blue
than I did ever seen; while I was looking it appear in my mind the idea
to think of something of my youth and write the idea to my good friend
Mrs. Jack first thing in morning. So here where I am right with you,
and always I will try to be, yes, because I am study to understand your
beautiful language and I know I will love it. And I will hope that
one day I could surprise the feel of my gratitude towards all this fierce
legion of friends and comrades.
The flowers you send to me last week it renew in my mind the remembrance
of my youth. It complete sixteen years ago this past autumn that
I left my father vineyards. Every year in autumn right after the
collection I usd take care my father vineyard and sometime I usd keep watch,
because near our vineyard they was a few big farmer and surronder our vineyard
they was vast extension of prairie and hundreds animal they used pasturage
day and night on those vast prairie. So the most of night I remane
there to sleep to watch the animal to not let coming near our vineyard.
The little town of Torremaggiore it is not very far from our vineyard,
only twenty minete of walk and I used go back and forth in morning an night
and I usd bring to my dear an poor mother two big basket full of vegetables
and fruits and big bounch flowers. The place where I used to sleep
it was a big large hayrick that my good father and my brothers and I build.
The hayrick it was set in one comer near the well in the middle of our
vineyard, and surronde this sweet hayrick they was many plants and flowers
except the red rose, because they was pretty hard to find the good red
rose and I did love them so much that I was always hunting for find one
plant of those good--red rose!
About sixty step from our vineyard we have a large piece of land full
of any quantity of vegetables that my brothers and I we used cultivate
them. So every morning before the sun shining used comes up an at
night after the sun goes out I used put one quart of water on every plant
of flowers and vegetables and the small fruit trees. While I was
finishing my work the sun shining was just coming up and I used always
jump upon well wall and look at the beauty sun shining and I do not know
how long I usd remane there look at that enchanted scene of beautiful.
If I was a poet probably I could discribe the red rays of the loving sun
shining and the bright blue sky and the perfume of my garden and flowers,
the smell of the violet that was comes from the vast verdant prairie, and
the singing of the birds, that was almost the joy of deliriany. So
after all this enjoyment I used come back to my work singing one of my
favorite song an on way singing I used full the bascket of fruit and vegetables
and bunch of flowers that I used make a lovely bouquet. And in the
middle the longuest flowers I used always put one of lovely red rose and
I used walk one mile a way from our place to get one of them good red rose
that I always hunting and love to find, the good red rose. . .
P.S. How you find the day of our dear Mrs. Evans birthday? I
have here very beauti bag to suprise her. If you hap to see her give
my warm regard.
[Mrs. Jack refers to Mrs. Cerise Jack who was a member of the New England
Civil Liberties Committee and a supporter of Sacco’s and Vanzetti’s.]
August 18, 1924. Dedham Jail
FERD H. MOORE:
SIR:--Saturday I received your letter with enclose the post card that
Mrs. M---- R---- sent to me--and the little pamphlet that you use to send
to me it just to insult my soul. Yes, it is true, because you would
not forget when you came here two or three times between last month with
a groups people--that you know that I did not like to see them any more;
but you brought them just seem to make my soul keep just sad as it could
be. And I can see how clever and cynic you are, because after all
my protest, after I have been chase you and all your philanthropists friends,
you are still continue the infamous speculation on the shoulder of Sacco
-Vanzetti case. So this morning before these things going any more
long, I thought to send you these few lines to advise you and all your
philanthropist -friends of the “ew Trail League Committee” to -not print
any more these lettters with my picture and name on, and to be sure to
take my name out if they should print any more of these little pamphlets,
because you and your philanthropists has been use it from last three years
like a instrument of in-famous speculation. It is something to carry
any man insane or tuberculosis when I think that after all my protest to
have my case finish you and all your legione of friends still play the
infame game. But, I would like to know if yours all are the boss
of my life! I would like to know who his this men that ar abuse to
take all the authority to do everything that he does feel like without
my responsibility, and carry my case always more long, against all my wish.
I would like to know who his this--generous-ma!!! Mr.---Moore--!
I am telling you that you goin to stop this dirtygame! You hear me?
I mean every them word I said here, because I do not want have anything
to do any more with "New Trail League Committee," be-cause it does repugnant
my coscience.
Many time you have been deluder and abuse on weakness of my comrades
good faith, but I want you to stop now and if you please get out of my
case, be-cause you know that you are the obstacle of the case; and say!
I been told you that from last May 25th---that was the last time you came
to see me, and with you came the comrade Felicani and the Profess Guad-agni.
Do you remember? Well, from that day I told you to get out of my
case, and you promised me that you was goin to get out, but my--dear--Mr.
Moore! I see that you are still here in my case, and you are still
continued to play your famous gam. Of course it is pretty hard to
refuse a such sweet pay that has been come to you right long--in--this
big--game. It is no true what I said? If it is not the truth,
why did you not finish my case then? Another word, if this was not
the truth you would quit this job for long time. It has been past
one year last June when you and Mr. Grella from New York came to see me
into Bridgewater Hospital and that day between you and I we had another
fight--and you will remember when I told this Mr. Moore! I want you
to finish my case and I do not want to have anything to do with this politics
in my case because it does repugnant my co-science--and your answer to
me was this: Nick, if you don't want, Vanzetti does want! Do you
remem-ber when you said that? Well, do you think I believe you when
you said that to me? No, because I know that you are the one that
brings always in these mud in Sacco-Vanzetti case. Otherwise, how
I could believe you when you been deluder me many times with your false
promise? Well--! anyhow, wherever you do if you do not intent to
get out of my case, remember this, that per September I want my case finish.
But remember that we are right near September now and I don't see anything
and any move yet. So tell me please, why you waiting now for?
Do you wait till I hang myself? That's what you wish? Let me
tell you right now don't be illuse yourself because I would not be surprise
if somebody will find you some morning hang on lamp-post.
Your implacable enemy, now and forever,
NICK SACCO
P.S. Enclose in this letter you find the letter and the pamphlet that you sent to me and I return to you, so if your philanthropist friends of the "New Trail League Committee" should print some more these or any kind these letters and pamphlets, you can show them just the way to print next time. So you be ad-vised now, that if any other my post card or letter should come to you address, please sent to me just my own, and not . . . these.
[Ferd Moore, the recipient of this letter, was counsel for Sacco
at the Dedham trial. Felicani refers to Aldino Felicani, a friend of Sacco’
who founded the Defense Committee. Profess Guadagni refers to radical
professor Felice Guadagni who helped the Defense Committee early in the
effort to free Sacco and Vanzetti. Sacco's mention of Bridgewater
Hospital refers to his stay at the Bridgewater State Hospital for the Criminal
Insane where he was committed following his 1923 hunger strike.]
December 28, 1924. Dedham Jail
MY DEAR BARTOLO:
This morning only I have received your dear kind letter that you sent
to me in Nov. 26, and you can imagine how glad I was to get it. Yes,
it is great for me to get once in a while one of your letter, because they
are always full of thought and faithful. Well, I have here a mount
of things to tell you but however that would be too long, and so I will
only say that I hope that we will see each other soon.
You are quite right when you say--that after all we are still on our
feet--of course, because we are always keep in our soul the hope and faithful
in our innocent; and I am sure that we will keep this hope and faithful
till the bright day of our triumph.
Yes Bartolo, it is very croock means, but the comrades and the proletariat
of the world they are always with us, indeed much more today than ever
was. Therefore, you will let me say to you courage my dear friend,
because this fight we are going to win, because I am faithful to this new
legion of our dear comrades.
I will close now to say that I was glad to hear from you that you are
feeling good and so am I. Meanwhile have my warm embrace with my most brotherly
affection.
Your faithful comrade now and forever,
FERDINANDO SACCO
[Ferdinando was the name with which Nicola Sacco was christened.]
June 18, 1925. Dedham Jail
MY DEAR COMRADE VANZETTI:
This morning right after I was waken my first thought it was to write
you these few lines, and send you my most kind and warm wish for your birthday,
with hope that it will be the last of yours and mine birthdays that we
spend in this terrible and iniquitous bastille, of the land of the free
... country!
The last time that my comrade Rosina was out here to see me, she told
me that she was out here to see you with my little Ines, and you can so
well imagine how glad I was when I heard it. Afterwards I asked her
why she didn't bring Dante too, and she said that he had to go to school,
but she will bring him to see you just as soon she will have the chance.
And therefore, I suppose that they will be over to see you pretty soon
because June 21 Dante will have the school vacation, and I know just how
much anxious my boy is to coming over to see you yes, because he told me
so....
Well, my dear comrade, it seems to me that this old degenerate world
has not shown any better day for us yet, but we will always hope that someday
the sunshine will bright our souls again. Meanwhile, I will close
to say, that in spite of all I do feel pretty good, and I hope to hear
from you the same....
June 18, 1926. Dedham Jail
DEAR MRS. EVANS:
It was an early bright morning when the harmony of the nature were
resting upon the soil of the mother nature, while I were looking through
the iron bars and contemplate the little sweet space of the nature, a noble
old image in mine eyes appear--while she were coming toward me, a little
gay breezes blow from the azure river seaside moving her lovely gray hair.
Then, sudden after I wake from this bliss sweet vision I could see that
were none other than the idea that I had since several day before. . .
to write you to-day. . .. Therefore, this morning--in spite of all, I could
not go any longer without write you these few lines, I stood so long without
write you a single word, but after your last welcome visit you give to
me I could never rest without sent you--that through all the struggle long
year have been kind to me as an dear mother can be--my warm heart greeting.
Yes, your last grateful visit were a good relief for me because, after
you had read to me your truly and good faithful article that you wrote
for our freedom, I felt such commotion that remind me of the same commotion
that I felt in my sweet youth in the embrace of my poor dear good mother,
for I have find in you that same sincere and faithful that my dear mother
she always had toward me. Therefore, let me tell you right now that
if the puritan of Massachusetts they have lost all the sense of the human
feeling, your image should live forever as example of noble tradition of
English woman, while surely if you should die you will leave the proselytes
among your friends that I know and unknowing that I love. . .
March 3, 1927. Dedham Jail
DEAR FRIEND MRS. WINSLOW:
. . . . The unexpected visit that you and Mrs. Codman kindly have gave
to me, though that personally we never know before yesterday, it were welcome
to me.
Our conversation were rather short than long and yet, the describe
of vineyard, the remembrance of my sweet days of adolescent, the good soul
of my poor old dear mother and the family that I loved, it reenjoyed this
sad life of today. Moreover, today, the remembrance of this noble
soul of mother has renew in my soul the joy for I have find here another
old dear mother, that in the struggle of these long years past she have
been always near me and my family sufferance; and today, even when she
is lying in bed with broke ankle she find the way to sent me the flowers
and her warm greeting by her good friends.
I have received your good letter the other day, and I were please to
hear that you enjoyed the visit and that Mrs. Evans is going to come out
all right. Therefore, please let me say thank you ever so much for
your kind expression words and the solidarity fraternal you have toward
our case, and for the good news you have from Mrs. Evans. . .
Yes, I have read very carefully the article that Prof Frankfurter wrote
in the Atlantic Monthly magazine, and after all the bitterness of these
long way cross years, I enjoyed to see an competent lecture man to demolish
all the frameup and flat one by one all the falsehood witness, who had
try to sent us right straight to the electric chair. It is the truth
flash of light that will remain forever into the history of tomorrow, it
together with The Brief that Mr. Thompson wrote a year past. . .
Ed. Note: Prof. Frankfurter refers to Professor Felix Frankfurter of
Harvard who wrote a well-respected article about the Sacco and Vanzetti
trial in the Atlantic Monthly magazine and was eventually published in
book form as Felix Frankfurter, The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti A
Critical Analysis for Lawyers and Laymen (Academic Reprints 1954) (1927).
Mrs. Winslow refers to Mrs. Gertrude L. Winslow, a supporter and confidant
of Sacco’s and Vanzetti’s. Mrs. Evans refers to Mrs. Elizabeth
Glendower Evans, a supporter of Sacco and Vanzetti who was long convinced
of their innocence. Mrs. Codman refers to Mrs. E. A. Codman of Boston,
a believer in Sacco’s and Vanzetti’s innocence.
April 26, 1927. Dedham Jail
DEAR FRIEND MRS. CODMAN:
It is very sad to be doomed and waiting for the electric chair today,
after we have wait for seven long years segregate in this hole cell behind
the sad bars for
see our right justice. It is a shame for the Massachusetts law
to step upon all the tradition of freedom of the United States.
But, however, we still live and we have our eyes to look above and
down, we see the spring come always more vivid and blooming and the flowers
grow always nice and free; while the perfume of the beauty blooms gaily
arise in the earth, in my vision appear one by one all the remembrance
of mine beloved and the old and new friends and comrades warmly.
I saw Mrs. Evans together with my companionship last week, and she
always talk about you and Mrs. Winslow--which I appreciate very much your
and Mrs. Winslow kindness and sympathy that you both have toward our case
and my family.
Meanwhile give my best regard to all, to Mrs. Winslow and special to
your doctor--the good bright man as Mrs. Evans describe me. . .
[Mrs. Codman refers to Mrs. E. A. Codman of Boston, a believer in
Sacco’s and Vanzetti’s innocence. Mrs. Evans refers to Mrs. Elizabeth
Glendower Evans, a supporter of Sacco and Vanzetti who was long convinced
of their innocence. Mrs. Winslow refers to Mrs. Gertrude L. Winslow,
a supporter and confidant of Sacco and Vanzetti.]
May 8, 1927. Dedham Jail
DEAR AUNTIE BEE:
Next Thursday will be seven years that I have been segregate day after
another in this narrow sad cell, and after I have been inexcusably persecute
all these long years past, I and my poor family, here am I waiting to the
ignominous execution. But however, this morning suddenly after I
wake, my gaze were turn with the smile towards the bright and beautiful
blue sky, while the gold sunrise were shining the flowers of the little
pear tree and the leaves of an oak trunk that beginning to blossom, I was
breathing with joy the perfume of these flowers that the friends sent to
me, the vivid sweet atmosphere of another day that the gay breeze were
blowing in my neat cell. It is sweet to me the date of this day because
it remind me, warmly in my heart, the remembrance of my first and second
old dear mother; the comradeship, the confidence of all the sudden pain
of your life that stick to you, to her, and of the grave yonder, and with
it all the other poor sufferince mothers. In the Herald issue of
May 5th--cutting that you sent me---it weren't pleasant news, when we read,
Sacco has refused to sign his name to the Fuller petition because-- fanatic
and--insane. puff ! oh yes, it was also like that alway in the history
of past. . . if his act would hurt the purse of an spiteful and tyrant
class, after they had crush him to death, they call him felon-fanatic and
insane. But in spite of all, in the right part has remain always
the pride of an sincere faith which one have love and for it suffered and
know to fall as he have suffered and loved, while at the other side is
the ignominous shame for the humanity.
I felt very sorry when Rosina had tell me that the guards have refused
to let you in to see me. Well I hope and I please the authority of
this institution that next time, I would like that they would let you in
anytime you should come to see me. . .
[Auntie Bee is not television’s beloved Frances Bavier, but instead
refers to Mrs. Elizabeth Glendower Evans, a supporter of Sacco’s and Vanzetti’s
who was long convinced of their innocence and was referred to as Auntie
Bee by her friends.]
May 14,1927. Dedham Jail
DEAR MRS. WINSLOW:
I have received your welcome letter of May 5th and also the other before
it was a lovely one, and you forgive me for I have not answer the one before
last. . .
You are very kind when you say that you went to see Rosina to bring
her good news and to see her how she was for she was troubled the day after
that I refuse to sign my name at the petition that Mr. Thompson sent in
to the Gov. Fuller. I thank ever so much for this very gentil idea
especially, and for all other and the sympathy that you are showing towards
our case. Pardon me, but please can you tell me what is the good
news that you brought to my companion? I did not sign my name because
I am positively that the Gov. Fuller and also any other legal step of law
they would have refuse to give us any square deal. Many friends and
comrades of mine like you they hope and they have always the hope, and
that is too bad to see them today sleeping in that same illusion optimism,
while we face to the electric chair. My hope, the only one which
I had always that today rest in my heart, it is that only the friends and
comrades and the international proletariat can save us from the iniquitous
execution.
Do not be afraid! When I think all this poor stupid, oppressed
humanity, the sufferance of my belove Rosina and all the persecution for
along these seven years segregate in this hell hole cell, I really forget
what fear means. If the conscience of Massachusetts justice have
the chance to hang us, don't worry, dear friend, they will inexorably execute
us....
From : umkc.edu
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