When Did Defendants Begin to Testify?

>>> Item number 584, dated 94/04/18 10:17:44 -- ALL 

Date:         Mon, 18 Apr 1994 10:17:44 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
Subject:      When did defendants begin to testify?

I would be very grateful if for information on when defendants began to testify in court. I am working on federal trials in South Carolina during Reconstruction, 1871-1872. I am aware that the federal courts followed the state rules, and I know from Levy's Origins of the Fifth Amendment that defendants did not testify during the colonial and early national period. I have not been able to determine from resources available locally when this began to change. Was South Carolina behind the national trend? What should I be reading? Any specific material about South Carolina would be particularly helpful.

Many thanks in advance,
Lou Williams, History, Kansas State University LWILL@KSUVM.Bitnet

>>> Item number 602, dated 94/04/20 17:04:03 -- ALL 

Date:         Wed, 20 Apr 1994 17:04:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu
Subject:      Re: When did defendants begin to testify?

           Lou,

           See David Gold, The Shaping of Nineteenth-Century Law for
           the story of the reform, initiated in Maine by John
           Appleton, later chief justice.

           Les Benedict

>>> Item number 610, dated 94/04/27 19:15:26 -- ALL 

Date:         Wed, 27 Apr 1994 19:15:26 -0500
Reply-To:     Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
Sender:       Legal History discussion list <H-LAW@UICVM.BITNET>
From:         Chris Waldrep <cfcrw@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu>
Subject:      Re: When did defendants begin to testify?

To Les Benedict and J. Lurie
Many thanks for the leads on defendant testimony. We don't have the Gold book, but at least I knew what to order through Interlibrary loan. It's wonderful to know there are knowledgeable colleagues out there so willing to help with problems.

Best wishes,
Lou Williams