State v. Grant

Harrington, J.,

delivering the opinion of the court:

There was a period in the history of the common law when conviction of certain crimes, and judgment on such conviction, rendered a person infamous, and disqualified him as a witness. Wigmore on Ev., §§ 519, 520, 521; Greenleaf on Ev., §§ 373, 375, 376; Chamberlayne’s Hand-Bk. on Ev., § 1156; State v. Timmons, 2 Harr. 529.

While it is not perfectly clear what offenses were included in this class, that felonies were included is apparent from the above citations.

Subject to certain qualifications that need not be considered here, this disability…