The Man With the Same Name

After an armed insurrection in western Pennsylvania, federal prosecutors indicted a man for high treason, charging that he had levied war against the United States in Allegheny County. At trial a long series of witnesses was examined about the events of the insurrection and about the defendant's presence at a place called Couche's Fort. The prosecution's case was that he was among those who had taken part in the rising. The defence contended that, although he had indeed been at Couche's Fort, he had taken no part in the insurrection, and that the man actually answerable for the conduct charged was a different person who happened to have the same name.