rose-colored specs...

[JBFRAME at aol.com]

In light of some of the more "moderate" comments about the late occurances in 
Genoa, it might be useful to go back a bit in time, to 1770. ...

http://chnm.gmu.edu/courses/zagarri/hist499/Adams.htm

The Boston Massacre


Legal Papers of John Adams, No. 64. Rex v. Wemms, pp. 260-270



> 
> >> Tuesday, NINE o'Clock, the Court met according to adjournment, and Mr. 
>> 

       May it please your Honours, and you Gentlemen of the Jury,
> >> 
>>  I yesterday afternoon produced from the best authorities, those rules of 
>> law which must govern all cases of homicide, particularly that which is 
>> now before you; it now remains to consider the evidence, and see whether 
>> any thing has occurred, that may be compared to the rules read to you; and 
>> I will not trouble myself nor you with laboured endeavours to be 
>> methodical, I shall endeavour to make some few observations, on the 
>> testimonies of the witnesses, such as will place the facts in a true point 
>> of light, with as much brevity as possible; but I suppose it would take me 
>> four hours to read to you, (if I did nothing else but read) the minutes of 
>> evidence that I have taken in this trial. In the first place the Gentleman 
>> who opened this cause, has stated to you, with candour and precision, the 
>> evidence of the identity of the persons.
>> The witnesses are confident that they know the prisoners at the barr, and 
>> that they were present that night, and of the party; however, it is 
>> apparent, that witnesses are liable to make mistakes, by a single example 
>> before you. Mr. Bass, who is a very honest man, and of good character, 
>> swears positively that the tall man, Warren, stood on the right that 
>> night, and was the first that fired; and I am sure you are satisfied by 
>> this time, by many circumstances, that he is totally mistaken in this 
>> matter; this you will consider at your leisure. The witnesses in general 
>> did not know the faces of these persons before; very few of them knew the 
>> names of them before, they only took notice of their faces that night. How 
>> much certainty there is in this evidence, I leave you to determine. ...







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