Beach v. State

1. While a witness may be discredited by proper proof that he has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude (Powell v. State, 122 Ga. 571 (50 S. E. 369)), it is not competent to discredit him by showing that he has been simply indicted for such an offense (Slappey v. Sumner, 136 Ga. 692 (71 S. E. 1075)), and a mere arrest being a less formal and solemn charge, proof of it is so much the more inadmissible for such purpose. 7 Enc. Ev. 308, and cases cited in note 24.(a) Accordingly, on a trial for murder it was error to permit a witness for the accused to testify on cross-examination,…