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33 Misc. 610

Biegelson v. Kahn

City of New York Municipal Court

Decided January 15, 1901

City of New York Municipal Court · decided 1901-01-15

<p>Jury — Hay discredit a witness for interest.</p> <p>A charge to the jury that “Before they can reject the testimony of any witness in the case, the jury must be satisfied that that person willfully, knowingly -and corruptly swore falsely” is erroneous, as they have a right to disregard the testimony of an interested witness if, for any substantial reason, they are dissatisfied with it.</p>

Decided 1901-01-15

Per Curiam.

¶1At the plaintiff’s request the court charged the jury, “ Before they can reject the testimony of any witness in the case, the jury must be satisfied that that person willfully, knowingly and corruptly swore falsely,” to which charge the defendants duly excepted. This charge did not state the rule correctly. The jury had a right to disregard the testimony of the interested witnesses if, for any substantial reason, they were dissatisfied with it, and it was not necessary, before rejecting the testimony of an interested witness, that the jury should be satisfied that the witness willfully, knowingly and corruptly swore falsely.

¶2Judgment and order appealed from reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellants to abide event.

¶3Present: Eitzsimons, Oh. J., Hascall and O’Dwyer, JJ.

¶4Judgment and order reversed and new trial ordered, with costs to appellants to abide event.

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