Two security guards are murdered during a robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts. Anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti would be convicted of and executed for the crime, amid much controversy.

Nestled within Norfolk County, Massachusetts, lies the municipality officially known as the Town of Braintree. Despite its designation as a "town," Braintree functions very much like a city, operating with a robust mayor-council form of government and legally recognized as a city under Massachusetts law. This distinctive administrative structure reflects its evolution and significance within the Commonwealth. According to the 2020 census, Braintree is home to 39,143 residents, making it a vibrant community that plays an integral part in the larger fabric of the Greater Boston area. Its residents benefit from convenient access to the metropolitan transit system, specifically the MBTA Red Line, which provides a direct link to the heart of Boston. Furthermore, Braintree is an active member of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council's South Shore Coalition, underscoring its commitment to regional planning and collaboration.

Braintree’s leadership has seen a recent transition; Joe Sullivan served as its first mayor until January 2020, after which Charles Kokoros assumed the mayoral office, continuing to guide the city's progress. The very name "Braintree" carries a historical echo across the Atlantic, as it was named after its English counterpart, Braintree in Essex. The town received its initial charter in 1640, laying the groundwork for its future development. Over the centuries, as the region grew and evolved, several sections of the original Braintree territory branched off to form their own distinct municipalities: Quincy in 1792, Randolph in 1793, and Holbrook in 1872, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Massachusetts' local history.

The Sacco and Vanzetti Case: A Defining Moment in Braintree's History

Beyond its administrative and historical foundations, Braintree holds a notable, albeit somber, place in American legal and social history due to its connection with the infamous Sacco and Vanzetti case. This controversy unfolded on April 15, 1920, when an armed robbery occurred at the Slater and Morrill Shoe Company right here in Braintree, Massachusetts. During the audacious daylight heist, a guard and a paymaster were tragically murdered, sending shockwaves through the community and setting the stage for one of the most contentious trials of the 20th century.

The Accused, The Trial, and Lingering Doubts

The individuals controversially accused of these murders were Nicola Sacco (pronounced [ˈnikla ˈsakko]), born April 22, 1891, and Bartolomeo Vanzetti (pronounced [bartoloˈmɛːo vanˈtsetti] or [-ˈdzɛt-]), born June 11, 1888. Both were Italian immigrant anarchists, a detail that would prove profoundly significant in the ensuing legal battle. After mere hours of deliberation, on July 14, 1921, a jury convicted Sacco and Vanzetti of first-degree murder, leading the trial judge to sentence them to death. From the outset, the verdict was shrouded in suspicion that strong undercurrents of anti-Italianism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and anti-Anarchist bias had heavily influenced the proceedings, potentially eclipsing the pursuit of pure justice.

A Cascade of Appeals and Global Outcry

What followed was a protracted series of appeals, meticulously funded in large part by the dedicated private Sacco and Vanzetti Defense Committee. These appeals were based on several critical factors: compelling recanted testimony from witnesses, conflicting evidence from ballistics experts, a potentially prejudicial pretrial statement made by the jury foreman, and even a confession from an alleged participant in the robbery. Despite these significant challenges to the original verdict, all appeals were consistently denied, first by the trial judge, Webster Thayer, and subsequently by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. By 1926, the case had transcended local notoriety, capturing worldwide attention. As details of the trial and the growing suspicion surrounding the men's innocence became more widely known, Sacco and Vanzetti were catapulted into the center of one of the largest and most passionately debated causes célèbres in modern history.

The global outrage culminated in 1927, with protests on their behalf erupting in every major city across North America and Europe. The demonstrations stretched even further, reaching distant metropolises such as Tokyo, Sydney, Melbourne, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Montevideo, Johannesburg, and Auckland, highlighting the immense international concern. Celebrated writers, artists, and academics across the globe added their voices to the chorus, pleading for a pardon or, at the very least, a new trial for the accused. Notably, Felix Frankfurter, a distinguished Harvard law professor who would later become a Supreme Court justice, authored a widely read article in the Atlantic Monthly arguing for their innocence, a piece later published in book form. Even the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, acknowledging their suspected innocence, attempted to pressure American authorities for their release. The two men were initially scheduled to die in April 1927, a deadline that only intensified the public outcry and urgent appeals.

The Final Decision and Execution

In response to a massive influx of telegrams urging a pardon, Massachusetts Governor Alvan T. Fuller took action, appointing a three-man commission to thoroughly investigate the complex case. After weeks of secret deliberations, which included interviews with the judge, lawyers, and several witnesses, the commission ultimately upheld the original verdict. Tragically, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in the electric chair just after midnight on August 23, 1927, bringing a contentious end to a seven-year legal saga.

Aftermath and Acknowledgment

Even after the executions, the investigations into the Sacco and Vanzetti case continued throughout the 1930s and 1940s. The publication of the men's letters, filled with eloquent and moving professions of their innocence, further intensified the widespread belief that they had been wrongfully executed. Additional ballistics tests and incriminating statements by some of the men's acquaintances continued to cast a shadow of doubt over the case, maintaining its controversial status in historical discourse. Decades later, on August 23, 1977, the 50th anniversary of their executions, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued a significant proclamation. In this official declaration, Governor Dukakis acknowledged that Sacco and Vanzetti had been unfairly tried and convicted, and asserted that "any disgrace should be forever removed from their names," offering a posthumous, symbolic exoneration for two figures whose story remains a poignant reflection on justice, bias, and the American immigrant experience.

Frequently Asked Questions about Braintree and the Sacco and Vanzetti Case

Q: What is Braintree, Massachusetts, officially known as?
A: Braintree, Massachusetts, is officially known as the Town of Braintree, despite functioning much like a city with a mayor-council government and being considered a city under Massachusetts law.
Q: How many people live in Braintree, Massachusetts?
A: As of the 2020 census, the population of Braintree, Massachusetts, was 39,143 residents.
Q: Is Braintree part of the Greater Boston area?
A: Yes, Braintree is an integral part of the Greater Boston area and offers residents access to the MBTA Red Line for convenient transportation into Boston.
Q: How did Braintree get its name?
A: Braintree, Massachusetts, was named after Braintree, Essex, in England, establishing a historical link across the Atlantic.
Q: When was Braintree first chartered, and which other towns originated from its territory?
A: Braintree was first chartered in 1640. Over time, parts of its original territory became the separate municipalities of Quincy (1792), Randolph (1793), and Holbrook (1872).
Q: Who were Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti?
A: Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian immigrant anarchists who were controversially accused of murder during an armed robbery in Braintree, Massachusetts, in 1920. They were executed seven years later.
Q: What crime were Sacco and Vanzetti accused of committing in Braintree?
A: They were accused of murdering a guard and a paymaster during an armed robbery of the Slater and Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, Massachusetts, on April 15, 1920.
Q: When and where were Sacco and Vanzetti executed?
A: They were executed in the electric chair at Charlestown State Prison just after midnight on August 23, 1927.
Q: What factors were believed to have influenced the Sacco and Vanzetti verdict?
A: Many suspected that anti-Italianism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and anti-Anarchist bias heavily influenced their conviction and sentencing.
Q: Did their case attract international attention?
A: Yes, by 1926, the Sacco and Vanzetti case had drawn worldwide attention, becoming a significant cause célèbre with protests held globally and support from prominent figures like Harvard law professor Felix Frankfurter and even Benito Mussolini.
Q: Was there any official acknowledgment regarding the fairness of their trial after their execution?
A: Yes, on August 23, 1977, the 50th anniversary of their executions, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued a proclamation stating that Sacco and Vanzetti had been unfairly tried and convicted, and that "any disgrace should be forever removed from their names."