AFFIDAVIT OF WILLIAM G. THOMPSON
My name is William G. Thompson. I am counsel for the defendants in the above entitled case. On or about Sept. 21 last I learned from Mr. Frank P. Sibley, a reporter on the Boston Globe, that that newspaper had just received a letter from Feri Felix Weiss, with a request that it be published, but that the Globe did not intend to publish the letter. Shortly afterward I began efforts to obtain this letter, and succeeded in doing so today, Oct. 7, with it was the envelope in which it was received at the Globe office. I annex said original letter and said envelope hereto, and make them part of this affidavit.
As I remember it, there is a fac-simile of the signature of Weiss on the picture of him annexed to the affidavit of Fred J. Weyand. I also call attention to the fact that this letter is written upon a letterhead stamped with the name of said Weiss, and was received in an envelope also stamped with his name in the upper left hand corner.
In connection with this letter I call attention to the contents of the letter of said Weiss to John Ruzzamenti on file in the case, a fac-simile of a part of which is also annexed to the affidavit of said Weyand, and of the following statements therein—namely, letter dated Dec. 17, 1920:
“Would you like to help me on a case which I may clinch here? It is the case of Sacco and Vanzetti, who are in jail awaiting trial for having shot the paymaster of the South Braintree shoe factory. * * * It is a very important case, and I need a clever Italian who would mix with the gang, and, if necessary, even stay in jail for a few days just to find out what they say. * * * I am afraid they won’t pay $8, so make it less if you can. Of course any expenses would be extra. If we deliver the goods they will probably give us the reward. I think there is $2,000 written out.”
In connection with this letter I also call attention to the parts of the affidavits of Weyand and Letherman relating to the activities and purposes of said Weiss in connection with the prosecution of Sacco and Vanzetti. I also, in connection with this letter, call attention to the affidavit of Mr. Katzmann on file in this case. I especially desire to call attention to the following sentences in this letter, namely:
“I explained to him (Katzmann) that anarchists do not commit crimes for money, but for a principle, and that banditry was not in their code”, and
“The truth in the “framing” was that we intended to put Ruzzamenti in with Sacco as much to clear Sacco of any guilt in the Braintree affair as to find him guilty.”
Signed William G. Thompson