The Decision Is In
The Result Of Captain Thomas Preston’s Trial Is In
By: Kevin Sun
Today, the final day of Captain Thomas Preston trial was exceptionally
breathtaking and it begins with a rather dreadful witness. The first witness
of the day, Matt Murray, went up to the stand. He basically stated did not
hear anything and all he could see was Preston talking a man he couldn’t even
distinguish who that man was. Next up was David Cornwall. He was near the
captain and he hear someone say, “Damn you why don’t you fire.”, but he was
certain the captain did not say anything although he did not say for them to
stop firing. The next witness was Benjamin Burdick. He blames the soldiers
for what happened that night and he heard the captain say to stop firing. He
said that the soldiers were afraid and when he asked one if he was going to
shoot, the soldier said yes. He did hear someone say fire but not the
captain. He also had a sword to protect himself. The last witness of the day
was Captain Thomas Preston himself. He stated that the colonist started the
trouble and a soldier shot because he was hit with a club. After that,
someone said, “Damn you bloods, why don’t you fire. “And 3 or 4 more soldiers
shot. He said that that he was also struck with a club and rendered his arm
useless. He also stated that he did not want anyone to fire.
During the end of the trial and while the jury was outside waiting
for a decision, attorneys Robert Paine and John Adams stated to fight and
Judge Oliver had to stop the. During this fighting Jane White said, “These
people are acting like females, they have no backbone.” After the fighting
there was a bug in the court and John Adams proceeded to kill it. After all
the commotion, the verdict was finally in. It was a hung jury. After the
trial I took a comment form the attorney Robert Paine. He said, “I think that
the jury made the wrong decision. I think it should be a hung captain and not
a hung jury.” This decision shocked many people including myself and we’ll
have to wait and see what happens next.
DECISION REACHED!!!!
Today, another exciting day of the trial begins! Today, the defense got a
chance to call up the witnesses to the stand. Matthew Murray was the first
witness. He was about two yards away from the captain and did not hear an
order to fire from the captain. The prosecution argued that because he was
two yards away it is possible the captain could have given the order to fire
but he had not heard it. Benjamin Burdick, also a witness, was angry at the
soldiers for firing without the captain’s command. He said the night of the
massacre he asked the soldiers if they would shoot again and the soldiers
replied saying yes and pointed their bayonets at him. Daniel Cornwall was
facing the captain directly and said the word fire was heard but from a voice
but not the captains. The prosecution however got him to say that during the
time of the shooting the captain did not stop his soldiers from firing. The
captain himself was the next witness. He says when the fire bell was heard he
assumed it was a regular fire, but still went out. He says after he saw the
guard who was protecting the royal treasury in danger he called for help. He
says the crowd did not stop the taunting. He declares the colonists were
throwing snow as big as ice and calling the soldiers,”lobster scoundrels.” He
also says the shooting started when one soldier was hit with a club and fired
as an instinct. He says one man provoked the soldiers to fire again when he
said, “Damn their bloods fire again and let them take the consequence.” After
that the soldiers, assuming it was him saying the orders, immediately fired.
He says he did in fact tell them to stop firing and was shocked after the
firing. That was all the captain had to say. The prosecution then went on to
say their closing statements. They asked a question to the captain saying why
would he tell his men to load but not fire? Also, witness Robert Godard was
facing the captain and says he heard the captain say fire. In addition he
says the soldiers had no mercy after the killing. The defense then makes
their closing statements. They say many witnesses did not see or hear Preston
at the time of the massacre. Furthermore, they continue to say that there was
another colonist wearing a sort-out like Captain Preston’s and he could have
easily been mistaken for the captain. Also, they said that the colonists were
violently threatening the soldiers. The judge then tells the jury to make a
decision. Moments pass by, both sides anxious for a outcome, however both
confident they will win. Then the moment of truth arrives when the jury
slowly walk back. The lawyers faces are filled with shock as they hear the
conclusion the jury has made. There has been a “hung jury” meaning the votes
were equal. The prosecution frowns in disapproval. The captain will not be
let free without any charges. This trial was an interesting one. It started
out in favor of the captain being guilty, but as the trial progressed the
evidence the defense gave was powerful and made sense to the jurors. The
trial then was balanced with some jurors believing the captain was guilty
while the others believing he was not. Hopefully, justice has been given and
the decision the jury made is the right one. I had a chance to interview one
witness after the trial. He said, “The conclusion of the jury really came to
a shock. Rarely ever is there a hung jury and when there a person is not
being accused of murder. I think the jury should have spent more time in
discussing so that justice could be given.” The witness wishes to keep his
name secret. This trial left many patriotic colonists in shock, but the
verdict has been made. Court adjourned.
Day 1 of Captain Thomas Preston's Trial Intense
Both sides are desperate to win
By Kevin Sun
Today, the first day of the captain’s trial was extremely intense.
The opening paragraph from the prosecution stated that they would do whatever
they could to prove Captain Preston guilty. They wanted him locked up or
killed for the 5 dead and the 6 wounded people. The nervous John Adams said
the opening paragraph of the defense that stated that it started with young
and old harassing the soldiers to hundreds throwing things that caused the
soldiers to fire, not the captain’s command.
The first witness the Prosecution called up was Daniel Calef. He
said that he saw an officer mouth the word fire but was not able to give much
more info. After the defense cross examined him, the next witness was called
up. His name is Richard Palmes. He heard some say the word fire and he
thought it had come from Preston but could not distinguish it. After another
witness, John Cole was called. He was 4 feet away from the captain and he was
sure that said “Damn their blood, fire again”. He did not believe that that
the colonists provoked the soldiers and all. He also said that the man was
not wearing a surtout on and was wearing something red with a rose. The
defense asked since he was not wearing a surtout, could he have been another
person and he answered maybe but was still certain that the Preston said fire.
Next up was Ebenezer Hinckley. He saw many colonist provoking the
soldiers with snow and stick and he head the captain say “Fire upon them.
Damn them.” He thought that the soldiers were also very upset. Next was
Theodore Bliss. He asked the Captain whether the soldiers were loaded and he
said yes. He also asked him whether they were loaded with ball. He did not
answer. He did not remember the captain saying to fire or to stop firing and
he did not think anyone was provoking the soldiers. After 2 more witnesses,
the last witness of the day came up. His name was Andrew and he was a African
slave. He said that he was very confused although he was certain that the
person who said fire was beyond the captain and he was certain that the
captain had nothing to do with the firing.
Judge Oliver seemed like he was bored and he did not really play a
significant role during the trial. I asked the prosecution lawyers whether
they thought they were going to win and if they had enough evidence to prove
the captain guilty. “We WILL win this trial. We definitely have enough info
to win.” Is what lawyer Robert Paine said. Quincy said that the judge was
awful and sustained their objections for no reason. I also interviewed the
Captain and he said that from what he saw, he was going to be proven
innocent. Tomorrow, as the 2nd day of the trial starts, I think it will be
even more thrilling as we reach a conclusive decision of whether the captain
is guilty or innocent. I guess we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to find
out
Months back the colonists had been outraged that 5 of their own were killed
in gunfire at the Boston Massacre. Colonists accused Captain John Preston of
telling his soldiers to fire while Boston and the loyalists say it did not
the word fire did not come from Captain John Preston’s mouth. Today, the
trial that had been waited upon for months finally took place. Both the
prosecution and the defense had very different viewpoints. The prosecution
argues that the captain did tell the soldiers to fire and therefore should be
punished. However, the defense says that the captain did not say such a thing
and with that the trial begins. There is unanimous agreement among all the
witness’s that the word fire was in fact heard, but they all have different
stories as to who said it. Some such as Jane Whitehouse are positive that the
word fire was not heard from the captain, while others such as Matthew Murray
say it was said by one of the soldiers themselves. The courtroom fell dead
silent when the prosecution was questioning the witness and the jury seemed
to be confused as to which side to choose. This confusion in the courtroom
soon heated to anger as Mr. Quincy rose up and yelled out “objection”
however, Judge Oliver allowed the prosecution to continue and
said “sustained.” Soon after Mr. Paine stood up and yelled the same, yet he
too was met with the same fate. As the trial continued a man named Andrew was
questioned. His honest, and trustworthy voice is noteworthy. He says the
voice that said fire was from beyond the captain, and not from the captain
himself. He says the captain did not in fact fire first and says he heard the
first shot from the first wing. He tells the audience it was a traumatic
experience like one he had never experienced. He was part of the crowd that
witnessed the shooting at the Boston Massacre. He says the Captain is
innocent and had nothing to do with it. After the trial, Mr. Paine was
questioned about his feelings toward their chances to win the trial. He
replied with a confident remark saying, “I believe we definitely have
substantial information to prove Captain John Preston given the command to
fire that night. It is only a matter of time before the trial ends and
justice is given to the colonists.” It was obvious that each jury member had
a very different opinion than the next one and their verdict will definitely
be well thought out and well discussed. Today in the courtroom there was a
lot of views of both sides of the argument. Let’s hope that tomorrow the
right decision will be made and the day will be a interesting one
