William Fred Dryden, Sam Alta Dryden, Newman Grady Albright, Edward E. Jackson, Luther Tate Conner and James Daniel v. United States

This appeal presents as the sole allegation of error the trial court’s permitting a government witness, whose impeachment had been sought, to attempt to explain away on redirect examination two state court convictions. Appellants contend that once they have drawn from a witness the damaging admission that he has been convicted, it was reversible error for the witness to be permitted to explain away the effect of such convictions.

No federal decision is cited to support the appellants’ contention. It is generally recognized that there is a wide discretion in the trial court as to the extent to…