Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 2 P11 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 88 BOTTOMRY On March 5 1770 English soldiers fired into a crowd of angry colonists killing five. Two of the soldiers were later found guilty of manslaughter. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS eyewitnesses all the reports were decidedly in support of the colonists. The pamphlet however was not distributed in Boston due to the belief that it might interfere with the fairness of the trial. The trial became a controversial issue with political aspects. In addition to the murder charge the legal action intensified the struggle between the King s men who desired a verdict in their favor to counteract the tactics of Samuel Adams and the colonists who wanted the trial to be an example to Parliament against further use of the militia to restrain their freedom. Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson believed that an immediate court hearing would be detrimental and unfair to the King s men he advocated a series of postponements and the trial finally began in the fall of 1770. Robert treat paine served as prosecutor and John adams cousin to Samuel Adams and Josiah Quincy were the defense counselors. The trial progressed and arguments were presented for both sides. The defense was determined to prove that the soldiers were acting in self-defense. The prosecution attempted to show that the soldiers were guilty of malice with intent to kill. Captain Preston was tried separately there is evidence that the jury was packed in his favor . He was acquitted and he hastily left Boston. Eight soldiers were next brought to trial and six were acquitted. The remaining two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter as opposed to murder . The method of punishment was branding on the thumb. The two soldiers Matthew Killroy and Hugh Montgomery received their penalty and were discharged from the military. The irony of the Boston tragedy is that it need never have occurred. shortly before the night of the bloodshed Parliament had decided to repeal the townshend acts that had so greatly agitated the colonists. Word of
