Citation Codes Equivalent Citations citation codes Attorney(S) D. Lloyd Macdonald for the Judy G. Zeprun, Assistant District Attorney, for the See more information ... Smart Summary Please sign up to generate summary. COMMONWEALTH vs. THOMAS W. CHILDS. Evidence, Prior conviction, Credibility of witness. Practice, Criminal, Assistance of counsel, Impeachment by prior conviction. Error, Harmless. Pardon. Witness, Impeachment. For reasons set forth in the opinion of the Appeals Court, Commonwealth v. Childs, 23 Mass. App. Ct. 33, 35-39 (1986), the majority of the court holds that a new trial is required. Judgment reversed. Verdict set aside.