Williams v. . the People

The plaintiffs in error, who were the original defendants, were indicted in the county of Rensselaer for the crime of robbery, and in June, 1865, were tried and convicted of that offense by the Court of Oyer and Terminer of that county,

On the trial, each defendant was offered as a witness in his own behalf, and was rejected. This rejection is claimed by the defendants as having been erroneous, and to correct it this writ' of error has been brought. The question is thus presented, whether a defendant, who is indicted for a criminal offense, is a competent witness in his own behalf.

The…