Willson v. Eveline

54 N.Y.S. 514

Opinion

HERRICK, J.

There is a conflict of evidence in this case, and the court, in presenting it to the jury, said, “There is a serious question of veracity in the case, which you will have to settle.” There was a sharp conflict between the plaintiff, one of his witnesses, and the defendant, and anything tending to impair the confidence of the jury in either thus became very important, and, possibly, decisive of the case. Upon the trial the plaintiff offered in evidence an indictment charging the defendant with assault in the third degree. Its admission was objected and excepted to by the defendant. While it has been repeatedly held that the mere finding of an indictment is not proof of the defendant’s guilt, because the law presumes one innocent until he has been 'convicted, and while it has also been held that, as matter of law, it is no impeachment of his morality or veracity, still it is a matter that is calculated to impair the confidence of the jury in the character of the person charged, and, in a closely-contested case, I can scarcely see how it is possible that the party against whom it is offered should not be injured by its reception in evidence. Its only effect can be to discredit the person charged; and, while a witness may be discredited by showing his conviction of a crime, he cannot be by merely showing that he has been indicted, and evidence to that effect is improper. Van Bokkelen v. Berdell, 130 N. Y. 141-145, 29 N. E. 254, and cases cited.

Without discussing the other questions raised in the case, but for the error stated, the judgment should be reversed, and a new trial granted; costs to abide the event. All concur.