The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON, March 11 1771.

Last Friday Morning came on before his Majesty's superior Court of Judicature, &c. now sitting for the County of Suffolk, the Trial of Charles Bourgate (commonly called the French Boy) for wilful and corrupt Perjury. The Indictment found against him by the Grand Jury, set forth the substance of his Testimony at the late capital Trial of Edward Manwaring, Esq; John Monro, &c. for the supposed Murder, of Crispus Attucks, &c. on the 5th of March last, and concluded with an Allegation that the whole was false and malicious, and that so the said Charles was therein guilty of wilful, malicious, and corrupt Perjury.

The accusation of the above mentioned Persons was grounded upon a pretended firing out of the Custom-House Windows that Evening, Nastily and wickedly sworn to by the said Bourgate.——

At his Arraignment the Prisoner pleaded not guilty, but when set to the Bar for Trial, signified his Desire to retract that plea, and throw himself upon the Mercy of the Court: The whole bench however, apprehending as it was a cause of popular expectation, that the Verdict of a Jury might be most satisfactory to all Parties, thought fit to hold him to his first plea; accordingly a Jury of Twelve was impannelled and sworn, who upon full evidence of the Falsehood from the Testimony of divers Witnesses of undoubted Credit, corroborated by the voluntary Confession of the Prisoner returned their verdict without going from their seats, GUILTY,

The Boy in excuse for himself urged nothing, but that he was advised to it by a Man who treated him well, and promised him he should not suffer for it.