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Commonwealth v. Harris

131 Mass. 336, 1881 Mass. LEXIS 250
CourtMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
DecidedJune 29, 1881
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 131 Mass. 336 (Commonwealth v. Harris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commonwealth v. Harris, 131 Mass. 336, 1881 Mass. LEXIS 250 (Mass. 1881).

Opinion

Morton, J.

In a prosecution for rape, the character of the woman for chastity is involved in the issue, and may be impeached by general evidence of her reputation, but particular instances of criminal connection with other persons than the defendant are inadmissible. 3 Greenl. Ev. § 214, and cases cited. Commonwealth v. Regan, 105 Mass. 593. Commonwealth v. O’Brien, 119 Mass. 342. In the case at bar, the defendant offered evidence to show, not the general character of the woman, but particular instances of un chastity with persons other than himself. The court rightly rejected the evidence.

Exceptions overruled.

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Bluebook (online)
131 Mass. 336, 1881 Mass. LEXIS 250, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commonwealth-v-harris-mass-1881.