Goodson v. State

1. A witness is always presumed to be competent. Adams v. Barrett, 3 Ga. 277.

2. When a witness is objected to on the ground that he is incompetent *179to testify, the question must, as a general rule, be decided by the court. Code (1910), § 5856; Dowdy v. Watson, 115 Ga. 42 (41 S. E. 266).

3. If, upon the preliminary examination, the witness appears to be competent, he should be permitted to testify; but if from the evidence his competency is doubtful, his competency depending upon a question of fact, and the court submits to the jury the determination of such fact, the jury should be instructed…