- The credit of a witness may be impeached in the following ways by the adverse party, or, with the consent of the Court, by the party who calls him :-(1)by the evidence of persons who testify they, from their knowledge of the witness believe to be unworthy of credit;(2)by proof that the witness has been bribed, or has accepted the offer of a bribe, or has received any other corrupt inducement to give his evidence;(3)proof of former statement inconsistent with any part of his evidence which is liable to be contradicted;(4)when a man is prosecuted for rape or an attempt to ravish, it may be shown that the prosecutrix was of generally immoral character.Explanation. - A witness declaring another witness to be unworthy of credit may not, upon his examination in-chief, give reasons for his behalf, but he may be asked his reasons in cross-examination, and the answers afterwards be charged with giving false evidence.Illustrations(a)A sues B for the price of goods sold and delivered to B.C says that A delivered the goods to B.Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion, he said that he had not delivered the goods to B.The evidence is admissible.(b)A is indicted for the murder of B.C says that B, when dying, declared that A had given B the wound of which he died.Evidence is offered to show that, on a previous occasion. C said that the wound not given by A or in his presence.The evidence is admissible.
