Celestino Medeiros; In the shadow of Sacco and Vanzetti

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Rogers & Silvia Funeral Parlor

Sacco and Vanzetti’s lawyers, William Thompson and Herbert Ehrmann made a motion for new trial based on Medeiros’ confession and the supporting evidence they found that pointed toward the Morelli Gang as the real culprits in the South Braintree crime. Judge Webster Thayer, the same judge who officiated at Sacco and Vanzetti’s trial and who overruled several previous defense motions for new trial overruled the Medeiros motion and stated that “Medeiros is, without a doubt, a crook, a thief, a robber, a liar, a rum-runner, a bouncer in a house of ill-fame, a smuggler, and a man who has been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of one Carpenter, who was cashier of the Wrentham Bank.”  Thayer believing Medeiros to be lying about being involved in the robbery, also pointed to the fact that Medeiros could not identify any of the landmarks at Braintree nor the caliber of the weapons used by his accomplices and that the Morelli’s had provided affidavits with alibi’s (later found to be concocted) stating that they had no hand in the South Braintree holdup.

“…execution came amidst worldwide marches, protests and riots…”
In a strange twist of irony Sacco, Vanzetti and Medeiros were all scheduled to be executed together.  The date of the execution came amidst worldwide marches, protests and riots to free Sacco and Vanzetti.  The three were kept in the death house at Charlestown State Prison in adjoining cells.  Each of the condemned was offered the services of a chaplain.  Sacco and Vanzetti being anarchists and opposed to organized religion, refused.  Medeiros, who was brought up Catholic, was in somewhat of a stupor refused the services of a priest as well.  The clock struck twelve midnight on August 23, 1927.  Of the three condemned men, Medeiros was the first to go to the electric chair. At approximately 12:03am two guards appeared a Medeiros’ cell.  As if in a semi coma Medeiros rose and was escorted down the hallway into the brightly lighted death chamber into the view of the witnesses, guards and warden.  He was guided into the electric chair.  His arms were strapped down as he stared off into some distant plane.

The electrodes were placed on him and a leather headpiece was affixed to the top of this head.  Then the guard placed the black mask over his eyes.  The air stood silent as the guards motioned that all was set.   Warden Hendry gave a nod and the executioner pulled the switch.  Medeiros’ body began to shake and stiffen.  It appeared to levitate in the chair as 300 volts of electricity coursed through his body.  After a few seconds those in the chamber noticed the smell of burning hair.  The executioner switched the current on then off three times and then Dr. McLaughlin approached applied his stethoscope and pronounced Medeiros dead. The body was quickly put on a stretcher and removed from the chamber.  At about 12:11 Sacco was brought in.  Looking about at the witnesses and the warden he exclaimed “Vive La anarchy” (Long live anarchy).   Then he grew calmer, as if resigned to his fate.


Grave #339 at Pine Grove Cemetery

As he was being strapped into the chair he quietly uttered “Farewell my wife and child and all my friends.” The electrodes were fixed, the headpiece applied and then the mask. Warden Hendry nodded once more and the executioner acknowledged the signal and pulled the lever.  Then in Italian Sacco called out “mother” and was dispatched to eternity.  At 12:18 the last to take the chair was Vanzetti.  Vanzetti walked in the death room with great vigor, stood near the warden and then said “I wish to say that I am innocent, I have never done a crime, some sins, but never a crime. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I am innocent of all crime, not only this one, but of all, al all, I am an innocent man.” He shook the hands with Warden Hendry, Deputy Warden Hoggsett, Dr. McLaughlin, and two of his guards and then sat in the chair.  Strapped in the chair with the mask over his eyes Vanzetti spoke up once again and said “I now wish to forgive some people for what they are doing to me” A teary eyed Warden Hendry reluctantly performed his duty and gave the final nod.  The lever was pulled and minutes later Vanzetti was pronounced dead.

Post Mortem
At the news of the executions riots broke out in several countries and at home in America. The supporters of Sacco and Vanzetti were crushed.  Arrangements were made and Sacco and Vanzetti’s bodies were put on display at Langone’s Funeral Parlor on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End for thousands to see. The next day there was funeral procession to the cemetery in which thousands participated.  All the attention was on Sacco and Vanzetti as they took their place in history and Celestino Mederios’ place began to slip away.

Medeiros’ body was claimed by his relatives and brought to Rogers and Sylvia Funeral Parlor at 216 County Street New Bedford where a few hundred of the curious viewed it. Feeling badly and thinking the Medeiros family destitute, the mayor of the city said that the city of New Bedford would pay for the funeral and the burial.  It was later found that Medeiros’ mother owned a tenement building at 735 Belleville Avenue in New Bedford and the city revoked the offer of a free burial because the family was not destitute as the mayor had previously been led to believe.  As a result, little money was available and Medeiros was buried in the pauper’s section of Pine Grove Cemetery, the marker “339” is the only thing to commemorate a life of crime and a connection to one of the world’s most famous murder cases.


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About Joe Silvia

When Joe isn't writing, he's coaching people to punch each other in the face. He enjoys ancient cultures, dead and living languages, cooking, benching 999#s, and saving the elderly, babies and puppies from burning buildings. While he enjoys long walks on the beach, he will not be your alarm clock, because he's no ding-a-ling.

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2 comments

  1. Great story…first time I heard of it.

  2. Donald H Barnes

    Great presentation…unfortunately, the beat goes on…

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