An exasperated multitude, among others Tom Brandon and Robert Walden, gathered in Faneuil Hall, Tom as witness, attending the examination of Ebenezer Richardson,[40] charged with the murder of Christopher Snider. Upon the platform sat the justices, John Ruddock, Edmund Quincy, Richard Dana, and Samuel Pemberton, wearing their scarlet cloaks and white wigs. There was a murmuring of voices.
“I hope the spy will swing for it,” Robert heard one citizen say.
“It’s downright murder, this shooting of a boy only nine years old, who hadn’t even been teasing Poke Nose,” said another.
“This is what comes from customs nabobs trying to enforce wicked laws,” said an old man.
“Yes, and keeps two regiments of lobsters here to insult us.”
“That’s so,” responded Peter Bushwick, whom Robert recognized. “If the laws were just the people wouldn’t smuggle. If there was no smuggling there wouldn’t be any spies, and Ebe Richardson, instead of being a sneaking informer, would have been earning an honest living. He wouldn’t have been called Poke Nose; there wouldn’t have been any snowballs nor brickbats nor shooting. Ever since I was a little boy Parliament has been passing laws to cripple us; that’s what’s brought on smuggling; that’s what keeps the troops here. Ebe Richardson is part of the system.”
There was a louder buzzing as the sheriff entered the hall and made his way through the crowd with his prisoner, who stood pale and trembling before the justices while the indictment was read. Witnesses were sworn and examined, and the sheriff ordered to commit the accused to the jail for trial.
“No other incident,” said Mr. John Adams, “has so stirred the people as the shooting of this boy. Nothing has so brought to the consciousness of the community the meaning of the ministerial system. Instinctively they connect the death of Christopher with the attempt to enforce the unrighteous laws. Richardson is in the employ of the government. There is no evidence that Theodore Newville or Nathaniel Coffin or any of the officers of the customs engaged him to remove the effigy; he did it on his own account, and must suffer for it, but the obloquy falls, nevertheless, upon the officers of the crown, and especially upon the soldiers, who are a constant menace. I fear this is but the beginning of trouble.”
Tom had been called upon to testify as a witness in regard to the shooting. He had heard the informer ask the peddler of charcoal and the farmer to run against the effigy with their teams; had seen the snowballs and brickbat fly, the shooting, and had assisted in caring for the wounded and summoning Doctor Warren.