At that hour Vanzetti was actually 28 miles away—in Plymouth, where he was well known as a fishseller. December 24th stands out always on the Italian calendar. Among the Catholics it is a fast day, and fish is the logical food. But the feasting spirit of the Christmas-tide is in the air, and the fish of ordinary days is not rich enough, so the Italians eat eels.
Vanzetti had taken orders in advance from numerous families for eels. On the evening of December 23rd, he arranged with thirteen-year-old Bertrando Brini to have him help in the delivery of the eels. Next morning the two went through the streets together making those deliveries. They were seen by many people. That day stood out in Bertrando’s memory because it was then he earned his Christmas money.
Eighteen reputable witnesses vouched for Vanzetti’s whereabouts on that day. Nine of those had been at home when he brought the eels, and talked with him. John Di Carlo, proprietor of a shoe store, testified that Vanzetti came to his store while he was cleaning up that morning—between 7:15 and 7:40 A. M. Every hour of Vanzetti’s time that Christmas Eve was accounted for.
Those who swore that they purchased eels from him included Mrs. Mary Fortini, Mrs. Rosa Forni, Rosa Balboni, Teresa Malaguice, Adelaide Bongiovanni, Marquetta Fiochi, Emma Bosari, Enrico Bastoni, a baker, and Vincent J. Longhi.
All these are persons of good repute. Their testimony was straightforward and certain. The prosecution made no serious attempt to disprove it.
Prosecutor Katzmann, who says this is solely a criminal case, asked Di Carlo during cross-examination:
“Have you ever discussed government theories over there between you?” and “Have you discussed the question of the poor man and the rich man between you?” (Trial record, Page 47).
And when Michael Sassi, cordage worker, was testifying for Vanzetti, the prosecutor asked: “Have you heard anything of his political speeches to fellow workers at the Cordage?”
Witnesses for the prosecution were few and inconsistent; several altered their testimony, consciously or unconsciously, to fit the prosecution’s needs.
Frank W. Harding, better known as “Slip,” originally described the shotgun bandit as “smooth-shaven,” according to the Boston Globe of December 24, 1919. But in the official transcript of the preliminary hearing of Vanzetti on May 10, he uses five lines to describe the “overgrown Charlie Chaplin” moustache of the same man. This description was given after he had seen Vanzetti.