People vs. William Johnson, physician, late of Schaghticoke, Albany County, and others, indictment for treason
— Supreme Court of Judicature, July Term, 1780
Treason against the State of New York is still a crime, mentioned in the state constitution, but no prosecutions have occurred since the Revolutionary War. William Johnson, physician of Schaghticoke, and others unnamed, were indicted for treason by a Supreme Court grand jury in Albany County in July 1780. The language in the indictment is imposing though formulaic. In June 1780 Johnson and his confederates, “not having the fear of God in their Hearts, nor weighing the Duty of their Allegiance, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil and as false Traitors against this State,” assembled with their weapons at Half Moon and then moved to Quebec, which was governed by the British. They committed an act of war against New York State, and the grand jury returned a “true bill” indicting them for treason.
People vs. William Johnson, physician, and others
