Beebe v. Knapp’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

43 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 44 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““Beebe, having been, as it would seem, on cross-examination, asked how many times he had been married, said he had been married four times, that one of his wives was buried, and one of them at home; was then asked, ‘Where are the other two?’ This was objected to as irrelevant, the objection overruled, and exception taken. His answer was: T cannot tell; was first married 18 years ago.’ He was then asked, ‘How long did you live with that woman?’ This was objected to, and the objection overruled, and the witness answered: ‘Seven years. I have not lived with any other women besides these; not what I call living with them.’ “These questions do not appear to have been put for the purpose of founding upon them any other questions pertinent to the issue, or any other fact in his past life which might contradict any statement made by witness, or in any 'way tend to impair his credit, except the mere facts elicited in reference to the women referred to. I think the court would have wisely exercised its discretion in excluding the evidence. But on cross-examination the court must be allowed considerable latitude of discretion in permitting questions calculated to elicit any information as to the past life and conduct of the witness, and to enable the jury to see ‘what manner of man he is,’ and we cannot, therefore, say that it was error in law to permit these questions. See Comstock v. Smith, 20 Mich. 338 .””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Lunde v. Detroit United Railway