The PEOPLE v. Mason

Defendant, Samuel Edward Mason, was tried in the criminal court of Cook County before a jury and on April 13, i960, was found guilty of the illegal sale of narcotic drugs, and sentenced to the Illinois State Penitentiary for a term of not less than 10 nor more than 15 years. He prosecutes this writ of error to review his conviction.

The defendant contends that the trial court erred in restricting cross-examination of the State’s witnesses. The trial court refused to permit defendant’s counsel to cross-examine with regard to the availability of the informer, and as to whether he would testify,…