Case ID: root_1/html/0383-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "By the Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mills v. Griswold.
    Voluntary communications of a party under engagements of secrecy, are to be testified, by a witness except those made to an attorney wlio is under oath to keep his client’s secrets.
    Aotiok of assumpsit upon a promise of marriage. Issue to the jury.
    Question — Whether a witness is obliged to disclose upon his oath what the defendant had told him in confidence, and upon a promise to keep it secret.
   By the Court.

The distinction is, where the communications are necessary in the course of business, as of a client to his attorney, he may not disclose them, but where the communications are voluntary, as in the present case, his oath obliges The witness to tell the whole truth.