Carter v. Cavenaugh
Supreme Court of Iowa
Error, to Clayton District Court. The only question in this case is, whether a witness may be impeached by showing a general bad character, and not by confining the inquiry as to his character for truth and veracity. In this case, it was proposed by the plaintiffs in error, to prove that a witness, examined by defendant in error, was of general bad character.
Read the full summary
Error, to Clayton District Court. The only question in this case is, whether a witness may be impeached by showing a general bad character, and not by confining the inquiry as to his character for truth and veracity. In this case, it was proposed by the plaintiffs in error, to prove that a witness, examined by defendant in error, was of general bad character. The court refused to permit this inquiry, and restricted the inquiry as to the character of witness for truth and veracity. This restriction, it is insisted, was erroneous. In support of this position, see Cowen and Hill’s Notes, pp.…
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Greene, J.
The defendants in the court below were found guilty in an action of trespass quare clausum fregit. On the trial, a witness gave material testimony in behalf of the plaintiff; and for the purpose of impeaching him, several witnesses were called by the defendants, who jiroposed interrogating them as to the general character and standing of the witness as a good or bad man, without reference to his character for truth. To this general method of impeachment, regardless of character for veracity, the plaintiff objected; and the objection was sustained by the court.
The numerous…
2Cases cited8 opinions
- Walker v. State ex rel. CorbinIndiana Supreme Court · 1841
- People v. HerrickNew York Supreme Court · 1816
- Gilchrist v. M'KeeSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1835
- Bakeman v. RoseNew York Supreme Court · 1835
- Jackson ex dem. Boyd v. LewisNew York Supreme Court · 1816
3 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by4 opinions
- Kelli Jo Griffin v. Paul Pate, in His Official Capacities as the Secretary of State of Iowa, and Denise Fraise, in Her Official Capacities as the County Auditor of Lee County, IowaSupreme Court of Iowa · 2016
- Amended October 25, 2016 Kelli Jo Griffin v. Paul Pate, in His Official Capacities as the Secretary of State of Iowa, and Denise Fraise, in Her Official Capacities as the County Auditor of Lee County, IowaSupreme Court of Iowa · 2016
- Kelli Jo Griffin v. Paul Pate, in His Official Capacities as the Secretary of State of Iowa, and Denise Fraise, in Her Official Capacities as the County Auditor of Lee County, IowaSupreme Court of Iowa · 2016
- Kelli Jo Griffin v. Paul Pate, in His Official Capacities as the Secretary of State of Iowa, and Denise Fraise, in Her Official Capacities as the County Auditor of Lee County, IowaSupreme Court of Iowa · 2016