State v. . Colson

Stacy, C. J.,

after stating the case: The,court’s instruction that the evidence tending to impeach the general reputation and character of the defendant was to be considered by the jury as corroborative of the testimony of the State’s witness, J. H. Metts, and only as such, is not in accord with precedent. It is contended, however, that a new trial should not be awarded for this deviation from the usual formula, because, it is said, to assail the credibility of the defendant’s testimony, by showing him to be a man of bad character, is, in effect, but to strengthen or to corroborate the…