Johnson v. State

The accused was being tried for a violation of the prohibition law. At the outset of the trial the solicitor of the court asked a witness for the State the following question: “Has this defendant, Nathaniel Johnson, ever been convicted before for violating the prohibition law?” The answer of the witness was: “Yes, he has been convicted twice before this for violating the prohibition law.” Counsel for the defendant immediately objected to the question and answer and moved for a mistrial on the grounds that the evidence was improper, illegal, and prejudicial to the accused, and that by said…