Sawyers v. Commonwealth

Citations

• 88 Va. 356
• 13 S.E. 708
• 1891 Va. LEXIS 43

Syllabus

<p>1. Criminal Proceedings—Conclusion of argument.—The trial court may, at its discretion, allow counsel employed hy private parties to aid the prosecution, to close the argument before the jury; and its ruling is not subject to review except for abuse of discretion.</p> <p>2. Idem—Remark of counsel—Coda, $3897.—Remark of prosecuting attorney that “ though he had no right to swear any man accused of crime, he had the right to prove his statements; ”</p> <p>Held :</p> <p>NTo violation of Code, § 3897.</p> <p>3. Idem—,Exclusion of impcaching testimony—Harmless error—Case, at bar.—In-case here;</p> <p>Held :</p> <p>That the evidence so clearly established defendant’s guilt, that an erroneous ruling excluding evidence offered to impeach one of commonwealth’s witnesses, was no ground for reversal.</p>