State v. Poston

Albert, J. —

The first point raised in the case is that, in the cross-examination of the prosecuting witness, the defendant attempted to interrogate her as to whether she had not been a sufferer from melancholia, and also whether, on several occasions, she had not accused other persons of raping or attempting to rape her.

While we have, in numerous eases, said that the extent of the cross-examination of witnesses is largely in the discretion of the trial court, yet this discretion cannot be arbitrarily exercised. Neither is it at all times limited strictly to the matters brought out under…