Commonwealth v. Haley
Commonwealth v. Haley
Opinion of the Court
The extent to which a witness can be required, on cross-examination, to testify to matters not directly in issue,
In this case, the witness did not produce the book to assist him in testifying, although he said that he had consulted it to enable him to testify, and was only able to state the transaction by its aid. He produced it by the request of the defendant or. cross-examination. It was then going as far as any authority will warrant, to allow the defendant and the jury to inspect the entries relating to the matter in issue; and the other contents of the book, which the witness said were private, and not concerning the case, he had a right to keep back. It was for the presiding judge to determine what parts of the book were material ; and if he was satisfied with the statement of the witness and refused to permit the cross-examination to extend farther the refusal is not the subject of exception.
Exceptions overruled.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Commonwealth v. Ellen Haley
- Status
- Published