Weeks v. Hull
Supreme Court of Connecticut
This was an action on a promissory note; tried at Hartford, September term, 1848, On the trial of the cause to the jury, on the general issue, the plaintiff having read in evidence the deposition of S, B, Haskell, which was material in the cause, the defendant offered sundry witnesses to impeach his character for veracity, who swore, that his character, in that respect, was not on a par with that of mankind in general.
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This was an action on a promissory note; tried at Hartford, September term, 1848, On the trial of the cause to the jury, on the general issue, the plaintiff having read in evidence the deposition of S, B, Haskell, which was material in the cause, the defendant offered sundry witnesses to impeach his character for veracity, who swore, that his character, in that respect, was not on a par with that of mankind in general. The plaintiff’s counsel then enquired of one of those -witnesses, what individual he had heard so speak against Haskell1 To this the defendant’s counsel objected ; and the…
1Opinion of the Court
Church, Ch. J.
1. The first question arising on this record, is, whether an impeaching witness may be enquired of, on cross-examination, from whom he had heard, or how he has received the information, of the general character of the witness impeached. Such an enquiry was excluded, by the superior court. A majority of us believe it should have been permitted.
The means of knowledge which a witness has of the truth of what he swears, and the reasons which have produced the opinions he expresses, are the best tests of his accuracy. These have always been considered as proper subjects of…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Cornell v. MoultonNew York Supreme Court · 1846
3Cited by22 opinions
- Aultman Taylor Co. v. . SymeNew York Court of Appeals · 1900
- Bemis v. LeonardMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1875
- Lamberti v. City of StamfordSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1944
- Eastern Oil Co. v. CoulehanWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1909
- Austin, Nichols Co., Inc. v. GilmanSupreme Court of Connecticut · 1923
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