New York Supreme Court January 15, 1900 (People v. Shanley)

Gaynor, J.:

The learned county judge charged the jury that “ordinarily in all criminal cases the burden is on the people to establish by a preponderance of evidence the crime charged ”, but that “ where a defendant comes into court and sets up self defense-as a plea, then the rule of law is changed, for the reason, that the burden of proof is upon the defendant to show that he did commit the act