ipl-logo

How Is Thomas Prestons Guilty

672 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on eyewitness testimony

“Getting Away with Murder: The Acquittal of Thomas Preston” Gentlemen of the Jury, I am here today to prove that Thomas Preston was indeed guilty of ordering his soldiers to fire at the angry mob of men. The night of the Massacre, in front of the Boston Custom House Preston and soldiers came to protect the sentry and found a crowd of a hundred angry citizens who were taunting the sentry. Jeering the British sentinel more and more by telling the sentinel to fire at them and throwing snow balls at them. But it was when the crowd was ordered to fire that lead to fatal blows. Many people were left dead. Many witnesses of the Massacre have stated that indeed it was Mr. Preston who ordered his soldiers to fire. According to Daniel Calef, “…Heard …show more content…

Preston is indeed guilty. Mr. Preston was seen yelling the words fire. We have a witness saying that he saw Preston’s mouth when he said it. Gentlemen of the Jury, please take into consideration that many of the other depositions, especially the depositions for Preston, are not fully descriptive as the depositions of the witnesses for the king. Many of the depositions for Preston are only a few sentences, however, the depositions of the witnesses for the king have a full story as to what actually happened. Some of the witnesses in Mr. Preston’s defense said they didn’t hear any order given at all. That’s because many of them were yards away from Mr. Preston. Daniel Calef was the only witness who said they saw the witness prior to the massacre. No one else stated that. The Massacre occurred in March, and it is now late October. Who knows if some of these people even remember everything they’re saying. That was probably the only time they had ever seen Mr. Preston. My point is, Daniel Calef was the only who seen Preston more than once. He saw him a two days before the massacre. He would have the best picture in his mind as to what Preston would have looked like. That’s why he said he recognized Preston instantly. Thomas Preston is indeed guilty of this crime because the witness saw him and was able to give a vivid description of Mr. Thomas

Show More
Related
834 Words | 4 Pages

Sir, I know Capitan Preston intimately. I can promise you he would not do such a thing. As God, my witness Capitan Preston is not guilty of murder.” Later, it quotes that Adams was mad that no other lawyers where going to take the case but he was delighted to help Preston by

Read More
710 Words | 3 Pages

In December of 1674, John Sassamon set off to, allegedly, warn Governor Josiah Winslow that, “the Wampanag sachem (New England Indian hereditary leader) King Philip […] was preparing for war against the English settlers” (p. 1). Unfortunately, Sassamon did not return from his journey and, on January 29, 1675, was found dead in an icy pound with his “hat, a gun, and a brace of ducks” nearby (p. 1). On March 1, 1675, three Wampanoag Indians – Tobias, Mattashunnamo, and Wampapaquan – were indicted for Sassamon’s murder (p. 100). Based on New England’s legal system, Tobias, Mattashunnamo, and Wampapaquan did receive a fair trial in that the case was tried in a General Court, and not dealt with privately between the Indian groups as was customary (p. 103).

Read More
1298 Words | 6 Pages

The Trial of Captain Preston: Key Evidence Documentation Introduction The primary source that was used was a complied list of the personal accounts and eyewitness accounts. It was put together by Becker and Wheeler from the book called “The American Past” (1990). Why did the group of people gather outside? They gathered because of the absurd amounts of taxes that were brought about by the British parliament.

Read More
1075 Words | 5 Pages

On March 5, 1770, three men died of gunshot wounds and two others died from their injuries. The events leading to their deaths are crucial to understand. Great Britain had stationed soldiers in Boston to enforce laws and defend protests. The colonists were resisting the British laws because Britain had been enforcing taxes created by the British Parliament in which the Colonies had no representation. Tension between the colonists and soldiers erupted on the night of March 5.

Read More
1400 Words | 6 Pages

The reality of what truly happened that night are ambiguous; some witnesses claim that Captain Thomas Preston ordered the soldiers to fire into the crowd while others say that he did not. After reviewing the testimonies given by witnesses, it is unquestionable that Captain Thomas Preston was innocent since witnesses place the Captain in the front of the soldiers, one of the soldiers is observed being hit by an object resulting in his firing of the first shot and

Read More
646 Words | 3 Pages

Some individuals falsely accused the captain, Thomas Preston, of giving his soldiers the command to open fire into the crowd. However, there is no direct evidence pertaining to this crucial accusation. The person who shouted out the order to fire remains a mystery. Several key witnesses who were present during the massacre and saw clearly the face of Thomas Preston was standing right with, or near him, makes it obvious that he does not order his troops to fire into the crowd of protesters.

Read More
144 Words | 1 Pages

The Boston massacre Although many historian believe the the Boston Massacre was a murder it is clear that it is an act of self-defense. First, the situation was self-defense because Preston was trying to get the sentry to safety when they got surrounded by armed and drunken citizens. The soldiers were defending themselves because they were unable to escape with their backs against the custom house and faced an angry mob. Secondly, the solders’ fire was eight to six seconds between them. this shows that the solders fired on there own accord because usually they all fire at the same time when following orders.

Read More
839 Words | 4 Pages

WOW! To Kill A Mockingbird has been a popular book for many years. The reason for this is it brings out a main theme which was common back then and still happens now. The theme of racism is seen in the book mainly at Tom Robinson's trial. The Ewell family represents the pride that whites had for innocent blacks.

Read More
108 Words | 1 Pages

James King is guilty because of the witness, Lorelle Henry’s testify. Sandra Petrocelli asks witness, Lorelle Henry, what had happened that day and what she overheard. Lorelle replies with, “The gentleman sitting at that table was one of the men arguing [points to King]” pg 164. Mrs. Henry- who had only gone to the store to get medicine for her sick granddaughter- had seen an argument between 2 men, one of them being identified as Mr.King, with the store owner. She left before anything got out of hand.

Read More
588 Words | 3 Pages

Due to the unworthy acts of the so called “protectors” of the colonists, five men are dead and six others have been injured. The soldiers fired and killed, without orders, five men who were irritated by the controlling English Parliament. The soldiers have claimed this massacre as an act of self-defense, but the killing of unarmed men is anything but self-defense. The soldiers fired unsure whether they had been given an order or not.

Read More
1859 Words | 8 Pages

Unfortunately, only two victims survived to tell the truth about what happened on March 8, 1782 and the militia who committed the atrocity were never given more than a slap on the wrist. For those reasons, it is difficult to determine what exactly was going through the minds of the Pennsylvania militia when they decided to take over ninety innocent lives. From the sources provided Allan W. Eckert, Phillip Hoffman, and Earl Holmstead from The Moravian Massacre documentary prove to be the most accurate sources of information. All three men are published writers and historians who have proven themselves as established professionals and agree in their accounts of the massacre. Worthington and Cummings, who, although, prove they are very knowledgeable, are only single opinions.

Read More
613 Words | 3 Pages

Imagine you were one of the British guards on March 5, 1770 (the Boston Massacre), and now you are in a courtroom wondering if the jury will find you guilty for murder. This may have been how these British guards actually felt. However, I believe that the British guards shot colonials on March 5, 1770 because they felt as though their life was in danger. As you will see, while there are many different accounts of the event, the guards may have been provoked by the mob. First off, as said in General Thomas Gage’s letter to his superior, it says that the crowd attacked the British guard with “some throwing bricks, stones, pieces of ice, and snowballs at them.”

Read More
333 Words | 2 Pages

One piece of evidence that proves the boy’s innocence is accuracy of the Old man’s testimony. In the play the jurors are arguing over whether or not the man heard the phrase “I’m going to kill you”. According to evidence, the noise of the train passing would be much too loud to hear anything,

Read More
685 Words | 3 Pages

Revolutionary War Essay By: Devin O’Neill I believe that the colonists should be held responsible for firing the first shot of the revolutionary war. I settled my opinion on this, because the colonists were the angriest prior to the battle between the two groups. The British had been dominating, and left the colonists to suffer. It gives the Colonists a reason to fire first.

Read More
2053 Words | 9 Pages

EDITOR'S NOTE: On the forty fifth day of remembrance of the death of James Schlosser of Great Falls, Montana, Claire Baiz, a neighbor of the victim, contributes this story. Please note, it contains graphic info. On July 10, forty five years to the day once James Schlosser was dead, dismembered and partly ingested, the murderer's brother are unchained.

Read More

More about How Is Thomas Prestons Guilty

Related Topics

Open Document