United States v. Williams

The United States appeals from an order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida dismissing an indictment against the appellees here. 18 U. S. C. § 3731. That indictment, 18 U. S. C. § 1621, charged each appellee with the crime of perjury while testifying in a prior criminal trial. The former trial was on charges of using “third degree” methods to force confessions from prisoners.

In that prior trial, six defendants — the four appellees and two others not here involved — were prosecuted under an indictment, four counts of which charged them, 18 U. S. C. (1946…