Chapter ONE - Weebly

Every year on Pope’s Day—November 5—gangs
of toughs from the North and South Ends paraded
through the streets to mark the anniversary of Old Guy
Fawkes’s Papist plot to blow up Parliament. These
gangs met each year near the center of the city and
fought pitched battles in the streets, bloodying
themselves and anyone who got in their way.
Many of those who took to the streets on Pope’s
Day would have also been mixed in with the rabble
responsible for the previous night’s devilry. In fact …
“Who was leading the South Enders that day?”
Ethan asked.
“Well, that’s just it,” the minister said. “They were
led by Ebenezer Mackintosh. He and the North End
man were arrested for the boy’s death. But both were
let go. It went to trial sometime later, but they were
never convicted.”
“Mackintosh,” Ethan repeated. The same scoundrel
who had led the rioters on their rampage through
Boston the night before.
“Was anything stolen from the boy?” Ethan asked.
“Aside from his life, you mean.” Pell shook his head.