Case Name: Commonwealth v. Lafferty
Court: General Court of Virginia
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Decision Date: 1849-12
Citations: 6 Gratt. 672
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth v. Lafferty.
Judges: 
Reporter: Virginia Reports
Volume: 47
Pages: 672–673

Head Matter:
Commonwealth v. Lafferty.
1849. December Term.
^ intercourse between an unmarried man and a married woman, is fornication in the man.
This was an indictment in the Circuit court of Fayette county against William Lafferty. The indictment charged that Lafferty, a single man, (and not being a servant or slave,) on &c. and at &c. did carnally know and have illicit intercourse and connexion with a certain Sabina M’Craw, a married woman, and did then and there commit fornication with her &c.
The defendant demurred to the indictment, and the Court, with his consent, adjourned to this Court the questions:
1. Whether the act of unlawful sexual intercourse charged in the indictment between the two persons therein named, one of whom is alleged to have been at the time a married person, constitutes the offence of adultery, or fornication only, on the part of the other ?
2. Whether the defendant may be convicted on said indictment, of adultery or fornication ?
3. What judgment the Court ought to render upon the demurrer ?

Opinion:
Field, J.
The Court is of opinion, that the offence charged in the indictment is fornication; and that the demurrer should be overruled, and a judgment entered for the penalty of 10 dollars, and the costs of prosecution: Unless the Court shall permit the defendant to withdraw his demurrer, and plead to the indictment.