William Lair Mcgowan, Appellant, v. United States of America, Appellee, 274 F.2d 81 (9th Cir. 1960)

Appellant was convicted by a jury on two counts — one of concealing and one of selling heroin.¹ 

But one point is raised on this appeal. Did the court below err in stating (a) it did not think the question,²  "Have you ever had possession of marijuana?" was proper on defendant's counsel's crossexamination of a government informer, and stating (b) further questioning about marijuana was improper and that "the Court had ruled," (again after the previous question had been answered).³ 

Thus here no question was unanswered; no objection actually sustained; no offer of proof made or rejected; and counsel for appellant was permitted to ask many more questions in his endeavor to show bias and prejudice on the part of the informer.⁴  Counsel for appellant asked all the questions he desired to put and answers were permitted to all such questions. No restrictions whatsoever were placed on efforts of appellant's counsel to establish bias and prejudice on the part of the informer, save as reported above.

As the case principally relied upon by appellant⁵  points out:

"The extent of cross-examination with respect to an appropriate subject of inquiry is within the sound discretion of the trial court. It may exercise a reasonable judgment in determining when the subject is exhausted."

An exercise of that judicial discretion here took place. We hold it proper, and affirm.