USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Most of the soldiers ended up being acquitted, including Thomas Preston, who was found innocent because he never ordered the shots. Two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, and their hands were branded with “M” as their punishment. The incident fueled the anger of colonists like Samuel Adams and Paul Revere.

Detailed explanation-2: -All eight men were found not guilty of murder. Two, Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Kilroy, were found guilty of manslaughter. A defense lawyer to the last, Adams negotiated the sentences of Montgomery and Kilroy using and ancient precedent of English law.

Detailed explanation-3: -Six of the soldiers were acquitted while two (Kilroy and Montgomery) were found guilty, not of murder, but of the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Detailed explanation-4: -Of the British soldiers tried in October 1770, the jury convicted only Montgomery and one other soldier, Matthew Killroy. Both were found guilty of manslaughter.

Detailed explanation-5: -The remaining soldiers claimed self-defense and were all found not guilty of murder. Two of them-Hugh Montgomery and Matthew Kilroy-were found guilty of manslaughter and were branded on the thumbs as first offenders per English law.