On This Day, March 5, 1770, British Army troops fire into a Boston mob, killing five. Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and others used the event to call for rebellion against the British authorities. Future U.S. President John Adams defended the troops in a court case that established the presumption of innocence.

A mob of Boston colonists had formed around a British sentry who was guarding the King's money stored inside the Custom House. The colonists began insulting the guard who struck one with his bayonet. The colonists retaliated by throwing snow and stones.

The guard, fearing a riot and concerned for the loss of the King's money, called for reinforcements. When the colonists began striking the officers with clubs they fired back, killing five people and wounding six others.

Eight British soldiers and their officer in charge, Captain Thomas Preston, faced charges for murdering the five colonists.

Not far from the Custom House, a 34-year-old Boston attorney sat in his off