Case No. 15,671.

UNITED STATES v. McDOWELL.

[4 Cranch, C. C. 423.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

March Term, 1834.

KEEPING HOUSE OF ILL FAME—WITNESS.

1. Upon an indictment for keeping a house of ill fame, evidence may be given of the ill fame of its inhabitants, but the witness will not be required to disclose their names.

2. The attorney of the United States will not be permitted to prove that his own witness is a woman of ill fame.

Indictment [against Sally McDowell] for keeping a bawdy-house.

Mahala Tennison, a witness for the United States, had stated that she had lived in the house, and was asked what other women lived there.

W. L. Brent, the defendant's counsel, objected to the question, and cited Hodgkins' Case, Buss. 619.

THE COURT (nem. con.) overruled the objection, but refused (CRANCH, Chief Judge, doubting) to require the witness to disclose the names of the women; because the persons, if named, would have no means of repelling the infamy which it would cast upon them.

Mr. Key, for the United States, then called a witness to prove that his witness, Mahala Tennison, was a woman of ill fame.

Mr. Brent, for the defendant, objected, and THE COURT (nem. con.) sustained the objection.

Verdict, “Not guilty.”

¹ [Reported by Hon. “William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

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