Was Judge Thayer really a bastard?

August 6, 2006 12:12 PM

Trying to find reliable sources for two famous quotes attributed to Webster Thayer, the judge who presided over Sacco and Vanzetti's trial.

At some point in the trial, Thayer is supposed to have said to the jury: "This man [Vanzetti], although he may not have actually committed the crime attributed to him, is nevertheless morally culpable, because he is the enemy of our existing institutions."

He is also said to have later bragged to a friend of his, possibly James Richardson, "Did you see what I did to those anarchist bastards the other day?"

These quotes are repeated on just about any anarchist website you can find, and are also used prominently in a Kurt Vonnegut novel, "Jailbird". I can't find any reliable sources for them, and they feel almost apocryphal. Can anyone help?

posted by stammer to grab bag (3 comments total)

This account (see the last couple paragraphs) cites this book as the source for your second quote. For what it's worth, here is Thayer's charge to the jury in the case - in my judgment it is both eloquent and impartial, though the judge's off-the-cuff remarks may not have been.
posted by Urban Hermit at 2:08 PM on August 6, 2006

Webster Thayer was a bigoted shit bag. I read a book quite awhile back entitled "Tragedy At Dedham". It's about 2 1/2" thick, it's gotta be in there. Sorry, I don't recall the author.
Thayer must have been related in some fashion to Mr. Potter of Bedford Falls, without a doubt.
posted by sgobbare at 6:58 AM on August 7, 2006

Oh! I found it!
Tragedy in Dedham: The Story of the Sacco-Vanzetti Case
Book by Francis Russell; McGraw-Hill, 1962
Questia Online Library
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6130971
posted by sgobbare at 7:03 AM on August 7, 2006