August 12, 1927

On this day in history in 1927 Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed for murder.

A Paymaster's Murder

Bartolomeo Vanzetti (left) and Nicola Sacco (right)

In a suburb near Boston a paymaster for a shoe company, along with his guard, were shot and killed on April 15, 1920. The killers escaped with more than $15,000. They were identified as two Italian men and after the murder Sacco and Vanzetti claimed a car the police believed was connected with the crime. They were arrested, both carrying guns and making false statement, however, neither had a previous criminal record.

A Sensational Trial

The trial of Sacco and Vanzetti was sensationalized across America. Authorities never came up with any evidence of the stolen money and other evidence against them was discredited. The trial was so heated protests were held, not only in Massachusetts but around the world, calling for their release. They were found guilty and sentenced to death on July 14, 1921.

A newspaper from the day Sacco and Vanzetti were electrocuted

The verdict did not quell the protests, however. Especially when Celestino Madeiros confessed in 1925 that he'd participated in the crime with the Joe Morelli gang. Yet the state Supreme Court refused to change the verdict and the Massachusetts governor refused to give clemency to either man. In the days before their execution protests heightened with bombs being set off in New York and Philadelphia. Regardless of the uproar around the decision on August 23 Sacco and Vanzetti were electrocuted.

In 1961 Sacco's gun was tested with modern forensic techniques that proved it was the gun that killed the guard. Little evidence ever substantiated Vanzetti's guilt, however. Despite the evidence against Sacco, in 1977 the Massachusetts governor issued a proclamation stating both men had been treated unjustly and that no stigma should be associated with their names.