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Private Matthew Kilroy was a soldier of the 29th Regiment of Foot who was present at the Boston Massacre. He killed one man and was found guilty of manslaughter. ==Boston Massacre== On 5 March 1770, 20 British soldiers, including Kilroy, were dispatched to King Street in Boston, Massachusetts to relieve Private Hugh White. A large crowd soon gathered around them. After Private Hugh Montgomery was struck by a club, Montgomery shouted, "Damn you, fire!" Kilroy then pointed his gun at ropemaker Samuel Gray, who - depending on the source - either said, "God damn you, don't fire!"〔Axelrod, Alan. ''(The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past )'' (Sterling Publishing Company, 2007), p. 60.〕 or "They dare not fire."〔Langguth, A. J. ''(Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution )'' (Simon and Schuster, 1989), p. 138.〕 Kilroy then fired the shot that killed Gray. The ball passed through Gray's head and "opened up a hole as big as a man's fist."〔 Several witnesses said that, afterwards, Kilroy's bayonet was covered with blood.〔Kidder, Frederic and Adams, John. ''(History of the Boston Massacre, 5 March 1770 )'' (J. Munsell, 1870), p. 254.〕 A few days before the massacre, Kilroy had argued with Gray at Gray's Ropewalks.〔Kidder, p. 276.〕 Kilroy had also, according to one witness, said that "he would never miss an opportunity ... to fire on the inhabitants."〔Zobel, Hiller B. ''(The Boston Massacre )'' (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1970), pp. 274-275.〕 On 27 March, Kilroy was indicted for murder. He was held in prison pending trial,〔("The Boston Massacre - 1770" ). ''americanrevwar.homestead.com''. Retrieved 9 November 2010.〕 which took place in November–December 1770, in Boston. John Adams, who would later become President of the United States, was his attorney. Kilroy and Montgomery were both found guilty of manslaughter on 5 December. They returned to court nine days later and pled "benefit of clergy" to avoid the death sentence. Instead, they were branded on the thumb, with a hot iron, the letter "M" for murder.〔("The Summary of the Boston Massacre Trial" ). ''bostonmassacre.net''. Retrieved 9 November 2010.〕 The two reportedly burst into tears before receiving the punishment.〔Fleming, Thomas J. ("Verdicts of History I: The Boston Massacre" ). ''americanheritage.com''. Retrieved 9 November 2010.〕 Kilroy was illiterate.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Matthew Kilroy (British Army soldier)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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