Cossomo Garcelli and Bartholomew Martel were brought before the grand jury in December 1783 after John Johnson, a sailor, was stabbed and died in Boston in November. Witnesses described the accused being thrown out of a Boston tavern before harassing several women, at which point Johnson intervened, precipitating the attack. While Martel was acquitted, Garcelli was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging.