Commonwealth v. Moore
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
At the Court of Common Pleas holden at Springfield In March 1824, a complaint was made, pursuant to Si. 1785, c. 66, § 2, by Sally S. Gile against Moore, as the father of a bastard child of which she had been delivered. A trial was had at the succeeding term in August, and a verdict was returned against the respondent.
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At the Court of Common Pleas holden at Springfield In March 1824, a complaint was made, pursuant to Si. 1785, c. 66, § 2, by Sally S. Gile against Moore, as the father of a bastard child of which she had been delivered. A trial was had at the succeeding term in August, and a verdict was returned against the respondent. He thereupon excepted to the directions of the judge, but this Court, at September term 1824, refused to take cognizance of the exceptions. [See 2 Pick. 386.] The Court of Common Pleas afterward ordered the action to be brought forward and the continuances to be entered, and…
1Opinion of the Court
Wilde J.
delivered the opinion of the Court. The evidence offered by the defendant below, to impeach the credit of the principal witness, was, we think, properly rejected. Evidence to impugn the character of a witness is commonly to be confined to his general character 'for veracity. In the case of Commonwealth v. Murphy, 14 Mass. R. 387, the inquiry was further extended ;1 but public justice does not require a still greater relaxation of the general rule. Besides, the evidence rejected was immaterial, the witness’s character for chastity being sufficiently impeached by her own confes*197on ; so…
2Cases cited4 opinions
- Brindle v. M'IlvaineSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1823
- Commonwealth v. Inhabitants of StockbridgeMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1814
- McKeon v. CahertyThe Superior Court of New York City · 1828
- Commonwealth v. CaldwellMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1817