Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-25
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL FOLLOWING BOSTON
 MASSACRE.

The collision between the British sol- diers and certain citizens of Boston on the evening of March 5. TITO, resulted in three trials of those engaged in 1t. The first was that of Capt. Preston: the second of the soldiers under hr. command. and the third of those who were supposed to have fired from the custom house windows.
 On this eventful night-which was the actual beginning of the American revolutions party of soldiers, of his Britannic majesty's z9th regiment of foot, fired upon a collection of citi- zens of Boston and caused the death of five individuals. Quartering sol diers among the colonies was never a popular measure in America and the citizens of Boston. in particular, re- scented it from the first. Outrages had been committed by some of the sol- diers, which were promptly resented, and quarrels were frequent.
 Early on the evening of March 5 it became apparent that an unusual ex- citement prevailed in Boston. Clusters of citizens were observed in earnest conference. About o'clock one of the bells was rung as if for fire, and so Jn after large bands of men were seen in motion. hurrying forth with clubs in their hands and uttering the fiercest imprecations against the soldiers.
 There were many slight clashes be- tween the citizens and soldiers, in cluding an attack on the sentry before the custom house while on duty. Capt. Preston, the officer of the day. sent a corporal and six men to protect the sentinel and followed them himself. The mob had now received a great accession of numbers and the soldiers on their way were hooted at and pelted with snow. ice and sticks They were then ordered to load.
 After the soldiers had taken their station before the sentinel at the cus- tom house and were pushing off the people, one of them received a blow with a club. which brought him to the ground Rising immediately. he fired, and the rest, with one or two aexcep- tions. followed his example.
 The citizens fled from the scene and intense excitement at once prevailed
 The streets were filled with people and there was danger of general and bloody conflict. A court of justices of search was made for Capt Preston After several hours he surrendered himself and was committed to prison at 8 o'clock in the morning on the charge of murder. The soldiers aiso surrendered and were committed to prison the next day.
 The regular time for holding the Superior court was the next week after the tragedy in Boston The grand jury found bills of indictment against Pres ton and his eight soldiers for wifi d
 murder but the court thought it fit to continue the trials to the next term when the people would probably oe more free from excitement and a more dispassionate hearing might be ex- pected.
 The case of Preston first came on feI trial before the Superior court oi l Judicature on Oct. 25. TITO. There were | five indictments against him. few | witnesses testified that he had ordered | his men to fire, but their evidence wal ! discounted by that of several other i witnesses to the opposite, and ths ! judges, in summing up their charge tC the jury, were unanimous in thsil opinion that he did not order his mer | to fire. The jury soon agreed upon { verdict of not guilty.
 The trial of the eight soldiers com
 menced on Saturday, Nov. 12, befor, 1 the Superior court. There were alss | five indictments against them. Tn, prosecution was conducted by Rober Treat Paine and Samuel Quincy. Tn, counsel for the prisoners were Johy
 Adams. Josiah Quincy and Sampson Salter Blowers. Every juryman iron
 Boston having been challenged fo cause and set aside the entire tur, was made up Of men resident outsid