State v. Beaudoin

On exceptions. Respondent was tried on an indictment charging him with illegal transportation of liquor, containing also an allegation of a former conviction for the same offense. The exceptions are (1) to the refusal of the presiding Justice to direct a verdict of not guilty; and (2) to the following instruction given to the jury:

“The fact of a previous conviction is introduced in this case for two purposes. Ordinarily the fact of a previous conviction can only be introduced for the purpose of impeaching the credibility of a witness. That is upon the theory that a witness who has once been…