Opinion ID: 2437720
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Testimony of Defendant's Attorney

Text: The attorney for the defendant presented himself as a witness to testify that before the trial Helen Risler approached him with an offer to disappear and not testify if defendant would give her $3,000.00. The attorney promptly and properly reported her action to the federal judge and, after further negotiations with her, with the full cooperation of the United States Attorney at Chattanooga, she was arrested on a charge of obstructing justice. Upon a plea of guilty she was given five years in federal penitentiary. The trial judge rejected this proof. We concur in his action. While this would have been a proper subject for cross-examination of Helen Risler, as affecting her credibility, in view of her failure to testify, it only served to inject a collateral issue. We agree with the Sixth Circuit that this matter is disturbing. 575 F.2d at 87. However, she is now paying a severe penalty for it. This assignment is overruled. Reversed and remanded. BROCK, C.J., and FONES, COOPER and HARBISON, JJ., concur.