The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

BOSTON. February 26.

LAST Thursday Morning about 10 o'clock, some Boys & Children set up a large wooden Head, with a Board faced with paper, on which was painted the figures of four of the Importers, who had entered into, and violated the Merchants agreement, in the middle of the street before Theophilus Lillie’s door, who was one of them. Soon after it was set up, Ebenezer Richardson, the famous informer, came by, and endeavoured to persuade a countryman to overturn it with his waggon; which he refusing, he applied to a Charcoal-man to drive his Cart against it; but he said he had no business with it, and would not concern himself about it. Richardson (as the Boys say) pressed him to it, saying he was a magistrate in the town, and would bear him out in it: The man still denying to meddle therewith, Richardson laid hold on the horse and oxen and endeavoured to shove them upon the pole which supported the pageantry; the cart however passed without disturbing it. Richardson then left the place and came towards his own house at about 50 or 60 paces distant, and meeting with Messrs. Edward Proctor, Thomas Knox, Capts. Riorden and Skillings, faced them in a very impudent manner, and cry’d out, perjury perjury! often repeating it as he passed them. The Gentlemen halted in the street, till getting within his door, he turned about and again repeated the insult. Mr. Proctor with the other Gentlemen step’t towards the door, and asked him what he meant by perjury! He said, I don't mean you Mr. Proctor, but looking spitefully on Mr. Knox, said d---mn you perjury, villains! Mr. Knox, retorted the abuse; on which Richardson said, by the eternal G---d, I will make it too hot for some of you before night! The Boys on hearing the words began to gather round, and call him informer; on which both he and his wife, or woman, went out & talked to them in a very provoking manner, flourishing their arms, and advancing out into the street, with high threatenings; on which the children would retreat, and on their return, advance, with the squealing and noise they usually make on such occasions. This farce soon made a notable diversion in favor of Mr. Lillie, Mr. Richardson and Lady having drawn the whole attention on themselves. The Boys at length began to throw light rubbish of one kind or other, as if to drive them into the house; this the woman often returned, till the matter became more earnest. They then retreated into the house, and speedily Richardson opened the door, and snapp’d a gun presented upon the people indiscriminately. This raised them so much that they then pelted the house, and broke some of the windows.--- In a few minutes after this, Richardson fired out of one of the windows among the people and wounded Mr. Sammy Gore, son of Capt. John Gore, thro' both thighs and fingers of his right hand, besides which, drove (one would think) a moderate charge into the breast and abdomen of Christopher Snider, a boy about 11 years of age, who lived with Madam Apthorp. The child fell, but was taken up & carried into a neighbouring house, where all the surgeons within call were assembled, and speedily determined the wounds mortal, as they indeed proved about 9 o'clock that evening. The people on hearing the report of the gun, seeing one wounded and another killed, got into the new brick meeting and rang the bell, on which they soon had company enough to beset the house front and rear; by the latter of which they entered, and notwithstanding the menaces of Richardson & his faithful aider and abettor George Wilmot, seized on both, and wrenched a gun from the latter, heavily charged with 176 goose and buck shot.

'Tis said that some Persons went into Richardson before he fired, and dissuaded him from it, but the event showed he was not to be diverted from his design. The criminals were first carried before Mr. Justice Ruddock, who was pleased to send them to Faneuil-Hall, under a sufficient guard, where three other magistrates, Richard Dana, Edmund Quincy, and Samuel Pemberton, Esqrs. with Mr. Ruddock, took their examination before at least a thousand people, and committed them. The numberless affronts and abuses both these persons had heaped on the inhabitants, exasperated them to such a pitch, that had not Gentlemen of influence interposed, they would never have reached the prison; but to the satisfaction of every good man, they are now in safe custody, where we leave them. to observe, that soon after the Child's decease, his body was opened by Doctor Warren and others, and in it were found 11 shot or slugs, about the bigness of large peas, one of which pierced his breast about an inch and half above the midriff, and passing clear thro' the right lobe of the lungs, lodged in his back. This, three of the Surgeons deposed before the Jury of Inquest, was the cause of his death; on which they brought in their verdict, wilful murder by said Richardson. The right hand of the Boy was also cruelly torn, whence it seems to have been across his breast, and to have deadened the force of the shot, which might otherwise have pierced the stomach.
The worthy Mr. Mc Dougal of N. York will be justly celebrated by Posterity as the first who has suffered actual Imprisonment for asserting the Cause of American Liberty. A very distinguished Patriot in this Town was long before made the Object of the Fury of the cursed Cabal; and by the good Providence of God escaped an Assassination evidently intended in September last, tho' not without the Loss of Blood: And the barbarous Treatment this Gentleman then met with, tho' not yet revenged, is not forgot----Others have suffered in their Reputation---Others in their Estates; having endured the fiery Trial of modern Courts of Admiralty, where they been harassed and distressed for no other apparent Reason but their being steady and able Advocates for the Cause.----This innocent Lad is the first, whose Life has been a Victim to the Cruelty and Rage of Oppressors! Young as he was, he died in his Country's Cause, by the Hand of an execrable Villain, directed by others, who could not bear to see the Enemies of America made the Ridicule of Boys. The untimely Death of this amiable Youth will be a standing Monument to Futurity, that the Time has been when Innocence itself was not safe! The Blood of young Allen may be covered in Britain: But a thorough Inquisition will be made in America for that of young Snider, which crieth for Vengeance, like the Blood of righteous Abel, And surely, if Justice has not been driven from its Seat, speedy Vengeance awaits his Murderers and their Accomplices, however secure they may think themselves at present: For whoso sheddeth, or procureth the shedding of Man's BLOOD, BY MAN SHALL HIS BLOOD BE SHED.

Upon the Examination of the Murder committed last Thursday, Wilmot, the Accomplice, in giving an Account of himself, said, that he was sent with a Message from one of the Crown Officers to Richardson's House--and tho' he added, that the Message did not relate to the Pageantry near the House of Lillie the Importer,
yet if it be true that Richardson, immediately upon receiving the message, went into Lillie's House, and from thence began to act his villainous Part, which is commonly reported, the World will judge of the Probability of the additional Part of this Fellow's Story--He has since denied the whole--but no one will wonder at--

It is hoped the unexpected and melancholy Death of young Snider will be a Means for the future of preventing any, but more especially the Soldiery, from being too free in the Use of their Instruments of Death.

It is confidently reported, that Wilmot was employed by ---e--, to act a Part with the INFAMOUS RICHARDSON, in a late tragical Affair.

We are assured from pretty good Authority, that Wilmot had been a considerable Time in the Service of the Commissioners; and that he had a PETITION before the BOARD at the Time the late barbarous Murder was committed.

The unfortunate Parents of the young Lad who last Week fell a Sacrifice to the Rage and Malice of an old Offender and his Abettors, however hitherto destined by the Providence of God to the humble State of lower Life, we are told, are Persons of Sobriety, Industry and good Morals.

The general Sympathy and Concern for the Murder of the Lad by the base and infamous Richardson, on the 22d Instant, will be a sufficient Reason for notifying the Publick, that he will be buried from his Father's House in Frog Lane, opposite Liberty-Tree, this Afternoon, when all the Friends of Liberty may have an Opportunity of paying their last Respects to the Remains of this little Hero and first Martyr to the noble Cause---Whose manly Spirit (after this Accident happened) appear'd in his discreet Answers to his Doctor, his Thanks to the Clergymen who prayed with him, and the Firmness of Mind he shew'd when he first saw his Parents, and while he underwent the greatest Distress of bodily Pain; and with which he met the King of Terrors. These Things, together with the several heroic Pieces found in his Pocket, particularly Wolfe's Summit of human Glory, gives Reason to think he had a martial Genius, and would have made a clever Man.

A MOURNER.

It is said that the Funeral of the young Victim, this Afternoon, will be attended by as numerous a Train as ever was known here.

It is hoped none will be in the Procession but the Friends of Liberty, and then undoubtedly all will be hearty Mourners.