Final answer:
The charges against Ernesto had to be dropped due to a lack of evidence and doubts about his guilt. Several witnesses provided conflicting descriptions of the perpetrators, and there was no forensic evidence linking Ernesto to the crime.
Step-by-step explanation:
The charges against Ernesto had to be dropped due to a lack of evidence and doubts about his guilt. Several witnesses provided conflicting descriptions of the perpetrators, and there was no forensic evidence linking Ernesto to the crime. Additionally, there were concerns about the fairness of the criminal justice system for immigrants and radicals, leading to pressure from immigrant groups and public opinion. As a result, the prosecution decided to drop the charges against Ernesto.
The charges against Ernesto could have been dropped due to a cessation of the trial from constitutional issues, lack of evidence, public pressure for judicial fairness, or practical considerations such as the defendant's health and age. Additionally, concerns about the fairness of the criminal justice system for immigrants and radicals played a role in the decision.
There are several historical and procedural reasons why the charges against Ernesto might have been dropped. One possibility is that constitutional issues arose during the trial which caused it to cease, ultimately leading to prosecution dropping the case. For example, the Supreme Court might consider a violation of constitutional rights, such as not being properly Mirandized, which would render certain confessions inadmissible as evidence. Additionally, there might be insufficient evidence linking the accused to the crime, as in the mentioned case of Sacco and Vanzetti where there was a lack of fingerprint evidence and possession of stolen money.
Public pressure and concern about the fairness of the judicial process, particularly towards immigrants and radicals during the 1920s, could also result in a case being dropped. This was reflected in the described reaction to the Sacco and Vanzetti trials, indicating that societal opinions and foreign protests sometimes influenced legal outcomes. Lastly, practical considerations such as the age and health of the accused, as well as the potential ordeal a trial might impose on them, can factor into the decision to drop charges, as mentioned in the case of the elderly governor.