Other Biographical Information about Sacco and Vanzetti
The two were suspected to have been linked to many more terrorist attacks such as the one where
the Attorney General was the target but the bomb being planted then exploded in Carlo
Valdonoci's hands. They were part of a gang, the Galleanis, which was led by Italian anarchist
Luigi Galleani. After the gangs prominent figures were deported in 1919, most of the members
became inactive or went underground to avoid arrest, deportation, and furture gang violence.
However, some sixty members including Sacco and Vanzetti continued on for their cause.
After the murder was committed and before the two were arrested, fellow gang member and
owner of the print shop that produced "Plain Words", Andrea Salsedo fell from the Bureau of
Investigation's window in New York City. Protesters claimed that the police killed him or were
hanging him out the window as an interrogation technique gone wrong. But later, Salsedo's
associates claimed he killed himself over the case and exposure of the group.
Sacco and Vanzetti were finally caught in a garage on May 5, 1920. They were in the company
of another man named Mario Buda who was also suspected to be a part in the murder. When the
police arrived, Buda escaped on a motorcycle and disappeared only to resurface later in Mexico
(believed to have lived under his alias Mark Boda for some time). Sacco and Vanzetti tried to
escape in a town car but were caught and arrested.
The real story of Sacco and Vanzetti did not come from their crime or arrest, but it was their
controversial trial and the protests that came after it. Innocence and guilt was not an issue at all,
but it was the presumption of guilt due to racist officials, a biased jury, and ultimately an unfair
trial that caused the controversy. The presiding Judge Thayer was quoted as describing the two
(PRE TRIAL) as "anarchist bastards." Despite constant protesting of American people to let the
two go, they were convicted of the murders. While there was some solid evidence that convinced
the jury, it is believed to have been spurred by the juries own racial profiling (all Italians were
believed to be anarchists and dangerous at the time, these two actually were though...).
The case was well publicized from start to finish and many of the letters from jail were printed in
well-known magazines. Sacco's last words were "Viva l'anarchia!" and "Farewell, mia madre." while
Vanzetti's were "I wish to forgive some people for what they are now doing to me." Many historians are
still conflicted over the innocence or guilt of the two. Most theories however, are that Sacco was the
perpetrator while Vanzetti was innocent but his close ties with Sacco and Galleani's incriminated him.
The case has been been made into many movies, books, and poems. The names predominantly float
around Russian (bar names, street names, pencil factory) and Italy (scores of operas, plays, movies,
documentaries, etc). But in the US several pop culture references have been made such as in a music
video for Rage Against the Machine and repeated references in the television show Family Guy.
Cool Story Regarding Sacco and Vanzetti
Upton Sinclair, author of The Jungle, bought completely into the defense's propaganda and was
an avid protestor for the release of the pair. He desperately wanted to write a nonfiction book that
would expose their innocence to the public and inevitably set them free. He could not uncover
any facts that would elude to another being guilty so eventually he was forced to go meet with
their defense attorney himself. Through a letter dated in 1929, it is revealed that at some point
Sinclair met with Fred Moore (defense attorney) and point blank begged him to reveal their
innocence or guilt. Moore told him that on day one the two had confessed to the murder to him
and they had been working on fabricating alibis and turning the case into a controversial race riot
ever since. In 2006, another letter written by Sinclair surfaced that showed his doubt of Moore
claiming that he been using drugs. Sinclair went behind Moore's back to talk to his wife who
assured Sinclair that regardless of what her husband said, they both were sure of Sacco and
Vanzetti's innocence. What anyone said to Upton Sinclair really didn't matter as he published his
book Boston anyways, but as a fictional interpretation of what he believed happened. The
characters in the book were innocent.
WANTED
Fernando Nicola Sacco Bartolomeo Vanzetti
WANTED for the murder of a Massachusetts man during an an armed robbery. Both
men are known members of several anarchist affiliations such as Luigi Galleani and his
followers, the Cronaca Suvversiva,and many others. Fernando Sacco grew up an ITALIAN
shoemaker in Torremaggioree, Foggia and was born on April 22, 1891. Sacco came to the
United States at the age of seventeen. Bartolomeo Vanzetti, a fellow ITALIAN, was a
fishmonger who grew up in Villafalleto, Cuneo and was born on June 11, 1888. While both
men arrived in the United States in 1908, it is speculated to be coincidental as they did not
meet until 1917. They are believed to have been tied to the Galleani bombings and the
printing of the "Plain Words" pamphlets. They are also believed to have another
accomplice by the name of Buda who is working closely with the FBI in order to aid in
their arrest. They are typical ITALIAN ANARCHISTS who are armed and very dangerous.
If you see these men or have any information about their whereabouts or further goings on
with anarchist groups, please contact the FBI immediately.
(841)761-3244
