Final answer:
Two British soldiers convicted of manslaughter after the Boston Massacre escaped the death penalty by proving their literacy, which allowed them to claim the benefit of clergy and receive a punishment of branding on their thumbs instead.
Step-by-step explanation:
The case you're referring to is related to the aftermath of the Boston Massacre, a pivotal event leading up to the American Revolutionary War. After the incident, eight British soldiers were tried for murder, and prominent patriot John Adams defended them, believing in their right to a fair trial. Two soldiers were found guilty of manslaughter, but they were able to evade the death penalty due to a provision in English law known as benefit of clergy, which sometimes allowed a lesser punishment for those who could prove literacy. By demonstrating the ability to read, they received a reduced punishment of branding on their thumbs.