Court Opinion

ID: 9867296
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-26 15:47:21.519622+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:34.289881
License: Public Domain

Church, Ch. J., dissented,
on the ground of a want of corroboration as to the intercourse. The prosecutrix testified that on a certain Thursday evening, the 5th day of August, the prisoner came to the residence of Dr. Kimball, where she resided; that she met him in the hall, and, after a little conversation, the intercourse took place, and that the prisoner then went home. The evening is identified with particularity, and circumstantial precision. It was a “lodge night,” when the prisoner usually called; it was before the prosecutrix attended the last day of a certain school, and that occurred on Friday, the next day; it was after the return of Mrs. Kimball, from an absence of several weeks, which was Tuesday evening before. It was prior to Monday the eighth when the prosecutrix had her monthly periods, *54as she states. There is no evidence and no claim that the prisoner ever had intercourse with the prosecutrix at any other time. The statute requires support or corroboration of the prosecutrix. She is not only not corroborated as to this circumstance, but all the evidence is in conflict with her statement. Mrs. Kimball’s evidence tends strongly to establish that the first occasion, when the prisoner called at the house after her return, was Saturday evening, and she states circumstances entirely inconsistent with those related by the prosecutrix, when the intercourse took place. She states that on that evening the prisoner visited with her until about eleven o’clock, when he went home. Other evidence tends to establish that the prisoner did not see the prosecutrix on that evening, nor on any evening after Tuesday until Saturday. Corroboration by opportunity and the like may be sufficient, but having fixed time, place and circumstances, if these are not supported by any evidence, but contradicted by all the evidence, the prosecutrix is not sustained or corroborated by proof that intercourse was possible on some other occasion than that testified to by her. The question is whether she is supported by other evidence, and not whether she ought to be credited. The statute requires supporting evidence, and, after a careful examination, I am unable tc find any.
All concur with Folgeb, J., except Chubch, Ch. J., dissenting.
Judgment affirmed.