The object of impeaching a witness is to discredit him, and destroy, if possible, the force and effect of his testimony. This may be done by showing his general reputation for truth and veracity to be bad, but not by particular acts.72

67 Turner vs. State, 60 Miss., 351. 68 People vs. Welch, 49 Cal., 181;

People vs. Casey, 65 Cal., 260;

Sparf vs. U. S., 156 U. S., 51;

Graff vs. People, 134 Ill., 382. 69 Bean vs. People, 124 Ill., 580;

Spahn vs. People, 137 Ill., 543;

Deal vs. State, 140 Ind., 354;

Bressler vs. People, 117 Ill., 422. 70 Bonardo vs. People, 182 Ill., 417;

Spahn vs. People, 137 Ill., 543. 71 Dowdy vs. Watson, 115 Ga., 42.

A witness may also be impeached by showing that he made statements on material matters out of court, or on some former occasion, contradictory to what he testified to in court; but the foundation must be laid by calling his attention to the time and place, and what he said, and giving him an opportunity to explain or deny what he may have said. If he denies making the statements, the impeaching witness will swear that he did make them.73

Again, a witness during his examination, or cross-examination, may tell such an unreasonable or contradictory story, that his own testimony may utterly impeach him.

Also, a witness may be discredited and impeached by showing on cross-examination his criminal career; that he had served a term of imprisonment in the penitentiary, was convicted of larceny, burglary or other crime.74

The rules relating to the impeachment of a witness apply to the defendant when he becomes a witness, the same as to other witnesses. His credibility is tested by the same tests, and only the same tests, applied to others.

But the impeachment of a witness must be confined to matters material and pertinent to the issues.75