~From the Trials of The Great Twenties
Cross examination of Nicola Sacco
District Attorney: Did you say yesterday that you
love a free country?
Sacco: Yes, sir.
District Attorney: Did you love this country in
the month of May of 1917?
Sacco: I can’t answer in one word.
District Attorney: You can’t say whether you loved
the United States of America. . .
Sacco: That is pretty hard for me to say in one
word, Mr. Katzman [the district attorney]
District Attorney: There are two words you can use,
Mr Sacco, yes or no. Which one is it?
Sacco: Yes.
District Attorney: And in order to show your love
for this United States of America when she was about to call upon you to become a soldier you ran away to Mexico?
Defense Counsel: Wait.
The Court:
Did you?
District Attoreny: Did you run away to Mexico?
The Court: He has not said he ran away to Mexico. Did
you go?
District Attorney: Did you go to Mexico to avoid being
a soldier for this country that you loved?
Sacco: Yes.
District Attorney: Was it for the reason that you
desired to avoid service that when you came back in four months you went to Cambridge instead of Milford?
Sacco: For the reason for not to get in the army.
District Attorney: So as to avoid getting in the
army.
Sacco: Another reason why, I did not want no
chance to get arrested and get one year in prison.
District Attorney: Did you love the country when
you came back from Mexico?
Sacco: I don’t think I could change my
opinion in three months.
District Attorney: You still loved America, did
you?
Sacco: I should say yes.
District Attorney: And that is your idea of showing
your love for this country?
Sacco: (Sacco hesitates) . . . I don’t
believe in war.
District Attorney: You don’t believe in war?
Sacco: No, sir.
District Attorney: Do you think it is a cowardly thing
to do what you did?
Sacco: No, sir.
District Attorney: Do you think it is a brave thing
to do what you did?
Sacco: Yes, sir.
District Attorney: Do you think it would be a brave
thing to go away from your wife.
Sacco: No.
District Attorney: When she needed you?
Sacco: No.
