Guilty: The Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770 shots fired out through the city, leaving five dead, more wounded, and soldiers that were charged of murder. This was called the Boston Massacre a huge turning point in the colonies. Although most people thought the soldiers were guilty I think they aren’t. I will prove from the testimony and eyewitness accounts that the soldiers should not be charged with murder and they acted only in self-defense.
Although soldiers fired into the crowd I think they are still not guilty and acted in self- defense according to what Daniel Cornwall said, “I think I should of heard him. I directly heard a voice say “Damn you, why do you fire? Don’t fire.” I thought it was the Captain’s then. I now believe it.” Cornwall was standing about two yards away from Captain Preston when the guns went off. According to John Adams HBO Mini Series,Captain Preston, he said that he was standing in front of his soldiers, but when one soldier got hit in the head with a club that was made for beating rope, now the weapon. Getting hit by the club made the soldiers gun discharge leading more to fire. Soldiers thought they heard “Fire.” coming from Preston. Preston knew he didn’t say the words and immediately said, “Don’t fire!” Five people died and more were wounded. Richard Palmes was also near Preston when the guns fired, so close that his
People had been throwing snowballs and clubs that soon turned the crowd into a mob. After one club hit a soldier on the head, causing him to fall down his gun discharged. The other soldiers fired after him and leaving five dead and more wound. Preston told them specifically not to fire, but the soldiers had to act in self-defense. People think that all of the accounts stating that Preston told them not to fire are a lie but I believe not. The soldiers and Captain that fired on March 5th, 1770 are in fact not guilty for committing five