Case ID: dc_4/html/0479-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "The Court", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

United States v. William T. Masters.
    Evidence will not be admitted that the witness is a common prostitute, to discredit her testimony. The question must be confined to her general reputation for veracity and whether from his knowledge of that general reputation he would believe her upon oath.
    Indictment for assault and battery.
    
      Mr. Brent, for the defendant,
    offered to prove .that the witness for the^prosecution, was generally reputed to be a common prostitute, in order to discredit her testimony; and cited 2 Hayw. 300 ; Hughes v. Scott, 3 Marshall. 261; Stale v. Murphy, 14 Mass. Rep. 387.
   The Court

(Thruston, J., absent,)

said that the rule which this Court has adopted, is that laid down by Starkie, and the question must be confined to the genera] reputation of the witness as to veracity; and whether, from his knowledge of that general reputation, he would believe her upon oath.