Sarah Brandon, Plaintiff in Error v. the People of the State of New York, Defendants in Error

Summary

The Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of Sarah Brandon, holding that when a defendant testifies as a witness under the 1869 statute, she is subject to the same evidentiary rules as any other witness, including permitting character attacks on cross‑examination. The objection to the question about prior arrests was properly overruled. A concurring opinion agreed with this result, emphasizing the statutory basis for the ruling.