Commonwealth v. Walsh

The defendant was tried upon a complaint for the illegal selling of intoxicating liquors. He offered himself as a witness in his own defence, and in cross-examination was asked, “ Have you ever been convicted of illegally keeping intoxicating liquor for sale ? ” The defendant was compelled to answer the question, and replied in the affirmative. His exception to this ruling brings the case here.

In Commonwealth v. Quin, 5 Gray, 478, and Commonwealth v. Sullivan, 161 Mass. 59, questions were asked of witnesses other than the defendant, which were treated as an attempt to prove a conviction of…