Miller v. Western & Atlantic Railroad

Bleckley, Chief Justice.

Reading sec. 3874 of the code alone, it might be thought that a witness impeached by any means could be sustained by proof of character, for the language is, “ The witness may be sustained by similar proof of character.” But it is obvious that this section is to be read in connection with the preceding one, and by reading that, we ascertain what sort of a -witness is referred to. The language of that section is, “ To prove general *481bad. character, the impeaching witness should be first asked as to his knowledge of the general character of the witness, and next as to…