Morse v. Morse

81 Pa. Super. 602, 1923 Pa. Super. LEXIS 145

Opinion

Opinion by

Gawthrop, J.,

This is an appeal from a decree refusing a divorce. The ground alleged in the libel was adultery. The evidence in support thereof consists solely of five letters, in the handwriting of the respondent, mailed from Buffalo, New York, where the respondent was living, to the libellant’s mother in Pennsylvania. Two of the letters were addressed to the libellant and were forwarded by his mother to him in this State. They amount to penitent confessions of guilt of adultery, and pregnancy resulting therefrom. But there is not a word of corroboration of the letters by evidence direct or circumstantial. Since the opinion in Matchin v. Matchin, 6 Pa. 332, was written by Chief Justice Gibson in 1847, it has been a “rule of policy” in this State “not to found a sentence of divorce on confession alone.” We have given the fullest consideration to the earnest argument of the able counsel for the appellant stressing the hardship resulting to his client from the refusal of a decree of divorce in the face of the convincing character of the confessions. But until the Supreme Court changes the rule of law laid down in Matchin v. Matchin, supra, we may not sever the conjugal tie upon the uncorroborated confessions of the respondent.

All of the assignments of error are overruled, and the decree is affirmed.