Case Name: The State of Maryland against Charles Ridgely
Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Decision Date: 1785-05
Citations: 2 Md. 120
Docket Number: 
Parties: The State of Maryland against Charles Ridgely.
Judges: 
Reporter: Maryland reports, being a series of the most important law cases argued and determined in the Provincial Court and Court of Appeals of the then province of Maryland, from the year 1700 [i.e. 1658] down to the [end of 1799]
Volume: 2
Pages: 120–120

Head Matter:
MAY TERM, 1785.
The State of Maryland against Charles Ridgely.
THIS was an indictment for murder. In the course of tjie trial the Court gave the following opinions.
Question. Whether the declaration of the prisoner, antecedent to the fact, is admissible, when it tends to explain and reconcile his conduct?

Opinion:
The Court
allowed the declaration, tp be evidence. The Court also determined it was improper to mention to the witñess, ifi the course of the examination, What the witné&S sWOrC formerly.
The Court
also determined, that path! evidence is admissible, to prové a man a convict, transported from Great -Arziamf nAd that a convict Cannot be restored to his credit, ' without actual service during the seven years.
The Court
also determined, that the declarations of the deceásed, antecedent to the stroke which occasioned the death, are not admissible evidence, and made á distinction between the declarations of the deceased and those of the prisoner. In the latter case declarations are evidence, because they tend to discover quo animo the fact was committed.