1. If you ever wonder why some lawyers would purposely choose to defend the vile, its not only for money and fame. Sometimes, its because of principles. You may think that thats stupid, naïve, or too idealistic ... but if you think PRINCIPLES matter, you would be in good company. john-adams-heritage/boston-massacre-trials/ 2. BACKGROUND The Boston Massacre ... Eight British soldiers fired into an angry mob, leaving five dead, several wounded, and a whole city looking ready to premature revolution all over the goddamn place. The soldiers were taken to trial in an effort to quell the masses. Unfortunately for them, they were in Boston, one of the colonies most anti-British cities at the time. Any lawyers who even dared to represent them risked not only their livelihoods but also their lives. But then one 30-something lawyer agreed to help them out -- his name was John Adams, the fourth most famous Founding Father, known for being the second president of the United States and for just generally making revolution stuff happen. Against Britain. Adams was so into the principles that made the revolution that he was even willing to apply some of the biggies, like EQUALITY and JUSTICE, to the very people he later fought against. And boy did he apply them. Not only were six of the eight released free of charge, but the two who were convicted of manslaughter were let off on a sentence that involved a branding of the thumb and, well, thats it. cracked/article_20441_6-people-saved-by-literally-last-person-they-expected.html 3. THE CLOSING SUBMISSION john-adams-heritage/summation-boston-massacre-trial/ 4. FINAL QUOTE “The Part I took in Defence of Cptn. Preston and the Soldiers, procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life, and one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country. Judgment of Death against those Soldiers would have been as foul a Stain upon this Country as the Executions of the Quakers or Witches, anciently. As the Evidence was, the Verdict of the Jury was exactly right.” – John Adams
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 07:33:20 +0000
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