New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York v. . Alfred E. Richardson
December 11, 1917222 N.Y. 103
Summary
The Court held that evidence of the defendant's prior convictions and the character of his hotels was inadmissible for the purpose of impeaching a defense witness, reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial. The dissent argued that such evidence was permissible to assess credibility and that the judgment should be affirmed.