Court Opinion

ID: 5512123
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 04:19:43.355225+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:34:11.324763
License: Public Domain

Mullin, P. J.
The point passed upon in this case of most importance is similar to that passed upon in Pooler v. Curtiss, ante, p. 228, in regard to evidence of the witness previously taking usury in the former case, and previously setting up the defense of usury in this case. The opinion states:
“ In this case the question was put to the defendant whether he had in other cases put in the defense of usury not for the purpose of proving that usury was not paid, as alleged by him, for it could not have such operation, but for the purpose of affecting his character and credit, and to induce the jury to believe that a person who would put in the defense of usury was unworthy of credit.
It surely cannot be the law that a jury may be instructed that defending one’s self against actions on usurious contracts may be considered, by them as disreputable, and impair the credit of the person who puts in such a defense. If this evidence was admissible for any purpose, it seems to me it was competent for the defendant’s counsel to ask the witness whether plaintiff had not, in one of the cases in which he had pleaded usury, admitted that he had taken usury. A better illustration of the mischief that would result from allowing such evidence to be given could not readily be imagined. 'If the plaintiff admitted the usury in one case, the court might very •well conclude he was guilty of taking it in the case before him, and *793that the credit of the witness, instead of being impaired, was actually strengthened. Such evidence cannot be competent.”
The other matters passed upon appear in the head-note.

Judgment reversed and new trial ordered.