Fanning v. Myers

The examination of a witness upon his voir dire, being upon matter collateral to the issue, is not bound down by the same strict rules which govern an examination in chief. The contents of written instruments may be inquired into on such examination. But if the witness has been sworn in chief¡ the privileges of an examination on a voir dire, cannot be extended to a cross-examination, although the inquiry is as to his interest; it must, for this purpose, take place in its due order. Howell v. Lock, 2 Camp. 14. Consequently, as the privilege extended to this species of examination may enable a party to prove a witness interested, by matter in writing, by parol proof of its contents, it is reasonable that parol proof of any paper discharging that interest, should also be received, and such is the rule to be drawn from the books.

In the Butcher's Company v. Jones, Esq, (1 Esp. Cases, 160,) a witness was asked, on his voir dire, if he was not free of the Butcher’s Company ? He *67answered, that he was not then, but had been free, and had been afterwards disfranchised. He was then asked if the disfranchisement of members was not regularly entered in the Company’s books ? He answered he believed it was. The counsel, who examined him, then insisted on the production of the books, to show the witness disinterested. But Lord Kenyon overruled the application; he said that the objection to the competency of the witness having arisen out of an answer to a question put by the defendant’s counsel, in which he had admitted that at one time he had been incompetent, that he should be allowed to restore himself to competency by the same means, which was by stating by parol whether he was then disfranchised or not; either as part of his answer to the question so put, or to one put by the plaintiff’s counsel. So, also, in the case of Botham v. Swingley, (1 Esp. Cases, 165, and Peake, 219,) a witness, upon his voir dire, showed himself interested, but discharged thatinterest by declaring, at the same time, that he had become bankrupt, and had obtained his certificate; it was contended that this fact could only be proved by producing the certificate. But Lord Kenyon held, that when the objection to the competency of a witness arose from his answer to a question on his voir dire, that he might, in the same manner, do away the objection, and restore himself to competency by parol. It is, however, at the same time, to be observed, that if the interest, in these cases, had been proved by other testimony, it would have been necessary to have answered the objection by the best evidence; the book of the company in the first case, and the certificate in the last. I Esp. 164. See this rule fully discussed and sustained in Lummis v. Row, 10 Ad. & Ellis, 605.

The rigid rule of the common law, which excluded a witness interested, in any degree, in the issue of the cause, led to great refinement, and was the parent of much subtle reasoning at nisi prim. The legal effect of a release in restoring the competency of a witness, without curing his prejudice, seems to have led to the conclusion that a different rule was necessary. Interest no longer excludes a witness, but it is still a proper subject of caution and comment to the jury. Code, sec. 398.