Massachusetts. Attorney General's Office

In connection with a robbery and murders committed Apr. 1920 in South Braintree, Massachusetts, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were indicted Sept. 1920 and prosecuted and convicted in 1921 in Norfolk Superior Court. After reviews of the trial and conviction by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and by an advisory committee appointed by Gov. Alvan T. Fuller and denial of petitions by defense counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court, the sentence of execution originally imposed on Sacco and Vanzetti was carried out on Aug. 23, 1927.

From the description of Sacco and Vanzetti case file, 1919-1976 (bulk 1920-1927). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79322169

The attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth, advising and representing it in all matters in which it is a party or has an interest, and representing the public in affirmative litigation to protect public interests. The post was designated as a gubernatorial appointment per Const Pt 2, C 2, S 1, Art 9; then as an elective office per Const Amend Art 17 (ratified 1855). St 1919, c 350, s 33 provided for a Dept. of the Attorney General (MGLA c 12). In its annual reports the unit has been called variously: Attorney General's Dept., Attorney General's Office, and Office of the Attorney General. Its functions are currently described in MGLA c 12.

NAME AUTHORITY NOTE. Series relating to the agency described above can be found by searching the following access point for the time period stated: 1780-present--Massachusetts. Attorney General's Office.

From the description of Agency history record. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 145429640