Katherine Anne Porter in an essay entitled, I believe, "The Never Ending Wrong," explains perfectly how the Left used the death-penalty issue in the Sacco and Vanzetti case. She didn't know it at the time and it was eye opening for her.
As her comrades said then, and must believe now, the accused -- the convicted sentenced to death whom they claim to be defending -- must die to further cause.
Yes that's the point I was getting at - perhaps in a muddled way. They say reprieve! but secretly they want he execution to go ahead.