Opinion ID: 1091604
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: whether the trial court erred in limiting cross-examination of a prosecution witness.

Text: Appellant also assigns as error the trial court's ruling which restricted the defense cross-examination of Ida Rae McCaskill. The information sought to be elicited by the defense concerned the fact that Mrs. McCaskill had several illegitimate children. This Court has previously held such cross-examination to be error. McMasters v. State, 81 Miss. 374, 33 So. 2 (1902) (error to cross-examine wife of defendant concerning fact that she had two children out of wedlock); Tucker v. Tucker, 74 Miss. 93, 19 So. 955 (1896) (character of witness for truth may not be impeached by evidence of unchaste character). See also Godfrey v. State, 185 Miss. 70, 187 So. 199 (1939); McCraw v. State, 260 So.2d 457 (Miss. 1972). This assignment of error is without merit.