Court Opinion

ID: 9580641
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 22:07:04.881584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:36:25.208825
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
As to Division 2 of the opinion, it is urged on motion for rehearing that the record in Pelham & Havana R. Co. v. Elliott, 11 Ga. App. 621 (75 SE 1062) shows that there was no attempt to impeach the plaintiff for general bad character as provided for by Code § 38-1804; that the only *519means by which the plaintiff was there sought to be impeached was by the introduction of his prior statements which contradicted his. denial at trial of pre-existing difficulty with his back; and that Pelham therefore holds that general bad character may be shown by proof of prior contradictory statements and is indistinguishable from the present case, requiring reversal for failure to charge Code § 38-1806 verbatim.
If Pelham holds that general bad character may be shown by proof of prior contradictory statements, it cannot be followed. Code § 38-1804 quite explicitly sets forth the method by which general bad character may be shown: "A witness may be impeached by evidence as to his general bad character. The impeaching witness should be first asked as to his knowledge of the general character of the witness, and next as to what that character is, and lastly he may be asked if, from that character, he would believe him on his oath. The witness may be sustained by similar proof of character. The particular transactions, or the opinions of single individuals, shall not be inquired of on either side, except upon cross examination in seeking for the extent and foundation of the witness’ knowledge.”
Hence this section deals with the general reputation of the witness (Green, Georgia Law of Evidence, pp. 329, 343, §§ 133, 138) and cannot be equated with impeachment by prior contradictory statements, which is provided for by Code § 38-1803.1 "The specification by the Code [§ 38-1804] of the nature of the questions to be asked impliedly excludes all other questions. Thus the inquiry is to concern general character, not character as to truthfulness [Gordon v. Gilmore, 141 Ga. 347 (7) (80 SE 1007)], veracity [Calfee v. Jones, 54 Ga. App. 481 (188 SE 307)] . . Green, supra at 344 (Emphasis supplied.) We expressly reject the contention made here that evidence as to prior contradictory statements offered to prove that the witness was swearing falsely at trial "inevitably creates an issue” as to general bad character. The two are *520entirely different methods of impeachment provided for by separate Code sections.
"The court charged that a witness may be impeached by disproving the facts testified to by him, and by previous contradictory statements made by him of matters, relevant to his testimony and to the case. It is contended that the court also should have instructed the jury that a witness was impeachable as to his general bad character. There was no attempt to impeach any witness by proof of general bad character, and the court properly gave no instruction as to this mode of impeachment.” Devereaux v. State, 140 Ga. 225, 227 (5) (78 SE 849).
To the extent that Pelham may conflict with these well-established principles, it will not be followed.

Judgment adhered to.

"A witness may be impeached by contradictory statements previously made by him as to matters relevant to his testimony and to the case.”