The Trial

Three statements by townspeople were used by the prosecution to try and prove the soldiers guilty. Three statements were used by the defense to try and prove the soldiers innocent.

WITNESSES FOR THE PROSECUTION

Witness #1: John Cole

I saw the officer after the firing and spoke to the soldiers and told 'em it was a cowardly action to kill men at the end of their bayonets. They were pushing at the people who seemed to be trying to come into the street. The captain came up and stamped and said, “D... their bloods, fire again and let 'em take the consequence.” I was within four feet of him…The soldiers were pushing and striking with the guns. I saw the people's arms moving but no sticks. 

Witness #2: Benjamin Burdick

I heard the word fire and am certain that it came from behind the soldiers. I saw a man passing busily behind who I took to be an officer. The firing was a little time after. I saw some persons fall. Before the firing I saw a stick thrown at the soldiers. The word fire I took to be a word of command.

Witness #3: Robert Goddard

The captain told the boys to go home least there should be murder done. They were throwing snow balls. [The boys] did not go off but threw more Snow balls. The Capt. was behind the soldiers. The captain told them to fire. One gun went off. A sailor or townsman struck the Captain. He thereupon said, “D... your bloods fire! Think I'll be treated in this manner?” This man that struck the captain came from among the people who were seven feet off. I saw no person speak to him. I was so near I should have seen it. After the Capt. said, “D... your bloods fire,” they all fired one after another about 7 or 8 in all, and then the officer bid, “Prime and load again.”

WITNESSES FOR THE DEFENSE

Witness #4: Ebenezer Bridgham

The soldiers stood with their pieces [guns] before them, to defend themselves. A party of colonists, about twelve in number, with sticks in their hands, stood in the middle of the street, gave three cheers, and immediately surrounded the soldiers, and struck upon their guns with their sticks...I saw the people near me on the left, strike the soldiers; guns, daring them to fire, and called them, "Cowardly rascals,” for bringing arms against them....

Witness #5: Jane Whitehouse

A man came behind the soldiers and walked backwards and forward, encouraging them to fire. The captain stood on the left about three yards. The man touched one of the soldiers upon the back and said, “Fire, by god I'll stand by you.” He was dressed in dark colored clothes.... He did not look like an officer. The man fired directly on the word and a clap on the shoulder. I am positive the man was not the captain.... I am sure he gave no orders.... I saw one man take a chunk of wood from under his coat throw it at a soldier and knocked him. He fell on his face. His firelock was out of his hand.... This was before any firing. 

Witness #6: James Woodall

I saw one soldier knocked down. His gun fell from him. I saw a great many sticks and pieces of sticks and ice thrown at the soldiers. The soldier who was knocked down took up his gun and fired...

Closing Argument #1- John Adams

Click HERE to view EXHIBIT F.

Closing Argument # 2- John Hancock

Boston Massacre, Delivered March 5, 1774.

On the fourth anniversary of the massacre, March 5, 1774, John Hancock delivered the most memorable oration of his career before a "vast crowd" and "rainy eyes." John Adams found the speech "elegant."  Hancock would, of course, two years later become a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His large and flowing signature inspired the use of his name in signing ceremonies of all sorts: "Put your 'John Hancock' right here."

Men, Brethren, Fathers, and Fellow-Countrymen:

It was easy to foresee the consequences which so naturally followed upon sending troops into America to enforce obedience to acts of the British Parliament, which neither God nor man ever empowered them to make. It was reasonable to expect that troops, who knew the errand they were sent upon, would treat the people whom they were to subjugate, with a cruelty and haughtiness which too often buries the honorable character of a soldier in the disgraceful name of an unfeeling ruffian.

But come to the actions of that dismal night, when in such quick succession we felt the extremes of grief, astonishment, and rage; when heaven in anger, for a dreadful moment, allowed hell to take the reins; when Satan, with his chosen band, spilled New England's blood, and polluted our land with the dead bodies of her guiltless sons! Let this sad tale of death never be told without a tear; let not the heaving bosom cease to burn with a manly indignation at the barbarous story; let every parent tell the shameful story to his listening children until tears of pity glisten in their eyes, and boiling passions shake their tender frames; and on the anniversary of that ill-fated night, let all America join in one common prayer to heaven that the inhuman, unprovoked murders of the fifth of March, 1770, planned by England’s Officers, and treacherous scoundrels in Boston, and executed by the cruel hand of Captain Preston and his blood-thirsty soldiers, may ever stand in history without a parallel!