The Art of Cross Examination

1903. With the cross-examinations of important witnesses in some celebrated cases. Wellman, one of the great nineteenth-century trial lawyers, made his reputation in the musty New York courtrooms of the 1880s and 1890s as assistant corporation counsel and assistant district attorney. In this volume he draws upon his own experiences and the brilliant achievements of other noted lawyers to explain and exemplify the principles of questioning. He quotes extensively from many memorable cases, utilizing them to illustrate both the manner and matter of cross-examination. He takes up the handling of the perjured witness and the expert, he underscores the importance of sequence, and he offers many insights into the psychology of the witness; showing that knowing when to elicit information, and when not to, is critical to the artistry of the advocate.