Case ID: mass_1/html/0259-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joseph Baxter, Jun., versus - Baxter.
    In a kbel for a divorce, confessions of the libellee, as to the fact of adultery, not admissible, unless corroborated.
    This was a libel for a divorce a vinculo, for the cause of adultery alleged to have been committed by the wife.
    
      Gay, the counsel for the libellant,
    having proved the marriage, offered to prove the adultery by the confessions of the wife, and said that he had, at present, no other evidence of that fact.
    
      Dawes objected to proving the fact of adultery by such evidence,
    which he insisted was never admitted, unless corroborated by other circumstances; and he cited Burns’ Eccl. Law, 41, tit. Marriage— 5 Can. 105.
   The Court (Dana, C. J., Strong, Sedgwick, and Thachcr, justices) were clearly and unanimously * of opinion that the confession of the party, uncorroborated by other circumstances, was inadmissible to prove the fact of adultery; that this rule had been too long settled and practised upon to be called in question; but exclusively of that, there were the strongest and most obvious reasons for adhering to the rule, and none for departing from it.