Neither Hauptmann, Sacco, nor Vanzetti got what would pass as a fair trial. For that matter, neither did that Scott Peterson guy, out in Modesto. Suppression of evidence, prejudicial pre-trial publicity, screwy jurors, screwier judges, etc. Whether they did it or not, IMHO, is not the most important thing. Getting the right guy, but with the wrong methods endangers everybody. Maybe an innocent guy, next time.
On the other side of the coin, OJ benefitted from an unfair trial. His attorneys not only played the race card, but the jurors just knew that what the "authorities" have to say ain't always necessarily so. Of course, they knew this from decades of liberals telling them so. No matter. In the NYC Courts, many bad boys walk on the race card with a black jury all the time. OJ walked. Martha Stewart, with whom I would have walked out of the courtroom, didn't.
Gen. Schwarzkopf's old man was head of the NJ State Police, at the time. What a weird case! Bruno definitely got a raw deal.
I think Clinton Pagano, the Fascist who headed the New Jersey State Police until he retired several years ago, was also involved somehow in this case.
Pagano had the State Police wear riding pants and boots even when they no longer used horses.
I don't know if the guy is still alive or not, but apparently a number of his brothers became law-enforcement officers in Jersey.
Jersey is a weird place.
Glad I left.