Wheeler v. United States

Wheeler (defendant) was charged with murder, and the victim's five-and-a-half-year-old child was called to testify; during voir dire the child stated he understood the difference between truth and lies, that lying would get him jailed, and that he intended to tell the truth. The trial court allowed him to testify, Wheeler was convicted, and the Supreme Court reviewed on a writ of error.

Whether a child witness is competent to testify when he demonstrates sufficient knowledge of the nature and consequences of an oath to tell the truth.