Case Name: W. Hawkins v. F. Hatton, et ux.
Court: Constitutional Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1820-05
Citations: 2 Nott & McC. 374
Docket Number: 
Parties: W. Hawkins v. F. Hatton, et ux.
Judges: Johnson, Richardson and Gannt, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 598–598

Head Matter:
W. Hawkins v. F. Hatton, et ux.
In an action, in which the husband is answerable in damages, the declarations of the wife cannot be given in evidence.
This was an action of trespass, tried at Newberry, before Mr. Justice Nott, Spring Term, 1820.
The trespass was alleged to have been committed by the defendant’s wife ; and the only testimony offered on the part of the plaintiff, was the wife’s acknowledgment, that she had committed the act; and it was made a question, whether her acknowledgments could be given in evidence against the husband.
*The presiding Judge rejected the evidence, and the plaintiff suffered a °'°-l nonsuit. This was a motion to set aside that nonsuit.
Bauslcett, for the motion. O'Neal, contra.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Nott, J.
The only direct authority which I have been able to find, applicable to this case, is the case of Denn v. Joshua White and wife, 7 D. & E. 112. The Court there says, "that the wife's confession of a trespass committed by her, cannot be given in evidence, to affect the husband, in an action in which he is answerable for the damages and costs." Philips, 63. Lord Coke says, a wife cannot be produced against the husband, as it might be the means of implacable discord and dissention between them, and the means of great inconvenience. The reason for excluding husband and wife from giving evidence either for or against each other, is founded partly on their identity of interest, and partly on a principle of public policy, which deems it necessary to guard the security and confidence of private life, even at the risk of an occasional failure of justice. Philips, 63. It appears to me, that this case comes directly within the policy of the law. If a wife cannot be a witness against her husband, when on oath, a fortiori, her declarations ought not to be received as evidence against him. The motion must, therefore, be refused.
Johnson, Richardson and Gannt, JJ., concurred.