Hudson v. United States

Appellant was convicted of violating the counterfeiting laws. 18 U.S.C.A. § 472. He contends that the trial court erred in denying him the right to cross-examine the prosecution's chief witness in an effort to impeach his testimony. He proposed to ask the witness whether he was connected with prostitution, narcotics, or pornography. He made no effort to show a conviction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude. The trial court did not err in so limiting the cross-examination. The scope of cross-examination rests largely within the discretion of the trial court. Grant v. United States, 5 Cir., 1966, 368 F.2d 658; Ford v. United States, 5 Cir., 1956, 233 F.2d 56. A witness may not be impeached by showing wrongful conduct or the commission of an offense for which there has been no conviction. Roberson v. United States, 5 Cir., 1957, 249 F.2d 737, 742. Appellant also contends that the court erred in refusing him an opportunity to cross-examine the witness as to the length of his sentence as compared to that given a co-conspirator not then on trial. The Court permitted appellant's counsel to question the witness as to whether he had received any reward or hope of reward for his testimony and it was not error to limit the cross-examination to the extent that it was limited. Cf. Grant v. United States, supra.