Bearss v. . Copley

The question put to the witness Hickock, whether he had not stated at different times to the defendant that the plaintiff did not attend to his business in the tannery, was properly overruled by the referee. As affirmative evidence to sustain the defence, it was manifestly inadmissible; and as the witness had not testified at all upon the subject of the skill or competency of the plaintiff in his particular employment, a response by him to the question, whether in the affirmative or negative, would not in the slightest degree have affected his credibility.

The referee was also right in denying…