West v. State

1 Wis. 209

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: June 15, 1853
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court,

Smith, J.

The errors assigned in this case we shall consider in their order.

1. “ That the Circuit Court erred in charging the jury that the law presumes that the prosecutrix, Eliza Pierce, was a chaste female previous to the commission of the offence alleged against the defendant.”

It is true, that ordinarily, the reasonable and just presumption is in favor of female chastity. So is, likewise, the presumption in favor of moral honesty. Happily, these presumptions are not only justified in all civilized nations, but nobly illustrated, as well by the institutions of social life, as by the laws enacted by government. Social intercourse is based upon the presumption of virtue, and society is obliged, so far to conform to this law of its existence, that even in its most corrupt state, it is compelled to put on, at least the form and semblance of virtue, though its spirit may have departed.

In every issue in which the integrity of an individual is attacked, the presumption of the law comes to his aid. Every person charged with crime, is presumed innocent, till he be proved guilty. Fraud is never to be presumed, but must always be proved. Every female charged with an offence, the essence of which is unchastity, is presumed to "be chaste, until contrary appears.

these excellent and humane presumptions of the ]aW) g0 pregnant with the testimony which it hears, to the dignity and honor of human nature, are always to he used, in the administration of justice, as a weapon of defence, not of assault. ‘ They are the shield of the accused, not the sword of the prosecutor.’

The statute defining this offence, chapter 139, section 6, is in the following words :

“ Any unmarried man, who, under promise of marriage, or any married man, who shall seduce, and have illicit connexion with any unmarried female of previous chaste character, shall he guilty of a misdemean- or ; and, upon conviction, shall he punished in a State prison not exceeding five years, or hy imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year ; hut no conviction shall he had under the provisions of this section on the testimony of the female seduced, unsupported hy other evidence, &c.”

The previous chaste character of the female is one of the most essential elements of the offence ; made so hy the express words of the statute, in conformity with the suggestions of sound reason. A prostitute may he the subject of rape, hut not of seduction. It is the chastity of the female which the statute is designed to protect. The pre-existence of that chastity is a sine qua non to the commission of the crime. That is the subject of legal guardianship, provided hy this section. It is a substantive matter necessary to he averred and proved.

If the prosecutrix were to change places, and were she indicted for lascivious conduct, then, indeed, the legal presumption would come to her aid, and her chastity would he presumed. But when the State accuses one of its citizens, with the' violation of the chastity of another of its citizens hy seduction, the law presumes the accused to he innocent of the entire offence, until the contrary appears. The State cannot he permitted to presume the immediate pre-existence of that chastity, with the destruction of which the defendant is charged. One act of illicit intercourse affords no presumption that another has not preceded it.

It is not the act of illicit intercourse merely, which is contemplated hy the 6th section; hut it is the prostration, hy means of seductive arts and appliances, of the virtue of the female, hy which her chastity has heen violated, and her moral, as well as her physical condition, changed and polluted. The gravamen of the State’s complaint is, that a pure and chaste female, has heen rendered impure and unchaste, hy the seduction and illicit connexion of the defendant. The presumption of innocence which the law affords the defendant, must he as "broad as" the offence charged, and it would seem, that the scope and strength of that presumption, should not he lessened or impaired hy counter presumptions.

The previous chaste character of the female is hy no means difficult of proof. If her character were unchaste, it could easily he shown; if otherwise, the very fact that it had never heen questioned, would, perhaps, establish it. In this case the prosecutrix testified, that she had never had connexion with any one hut the defendant. Slight corroboration might have heen sufficient. But the error consists in the instruction which the court gave the jury, to the effect, that the law presumed that she was previously of a chaste character, independent, of any proof whatever. This is setting up a presumption on the part of the State, P1,osecufing party, incompatible with the presump-^on the iaw affords the defendant; and if the principle should prevail, the presumption of the virtue of one citizen, might work the condemnation of another, in whose favor the law affords equal, and when charged with crime, even stronger presumption.

2. “ That the court erred, in charging the jury, that proof of cohabitation on the part of the defendant, with a female as husband and wife, was evidence of marriage in this case.”

3. That the court erred in charging the jury, that circumstances, such as the introduction of a female to persons as “Mrs. West,” calling her his wife, answering to the title of husband, and assuming, in their intercourse with society, the character of husband and wife, was evidence of marriage in this case.”

We choose to consider these two errors, assigned, together, as they are essentially similar in their character.

In actions for crim. con. and adultery, the marriage is an essential ingredient in the cause of action ; so in bigamy. The latter differs from the former two, in this, that the fact of marriage in the latter is peculiarly within the knowledge of the defendant. In the former, especially, it has been held, that mm'riage in fact, or actual ma/rriage must be proved, in contradistinction to proof of cohabitation and reputation. The case w'hich most of the others in which this question has been determined, have seemed to follow, is that of Morris vs. Miller, 4 Burr. 2057. The question reserved for the consideration of the court, in that case, was,

“Whether to support an action for a criminal conversation, there must not he proof of actual marriage? ”

A verdict was taken for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the court; and the objection to the verdict was, that it was found without sufficient- evidence of the plaintiff’s marriage. On the argument of the motion to set aside the verdict, the plaintiff’s counsel insisted that the evidence produced was admissible, and the jury had believed it.

“We proved,” said the counsel for the plaintiff, “ articles between the man and his wife, made after the marriage, for settling the wife’s estate with the privity of relations on both sides. We prove cohabitation, name mid reception of her by everybody as his wife; though we did not indeed prove it by any register^ or by witnesses who were present at the marriage.” “ The defendant, Miller, confessed to the landlord of the lodging, ‘ that she was Captain Morris’ wife,’ and that he had committed adultery with her.”

The counsel for the defendant objected against the admissibility of the evidence, that it was not the best evidence, <fcc.

After deliberation, the opinion of the court was delivered by Lord Mansfield : “We are all clearly of the opinion, that in this kind of action, there must be evidence of marriage in fact. Acknowledgement, cohabitation and reputation, are not sufficient to maintain the action.”

“ But, we do not, at present, define what may or may not, be evidence of a marriage in fact.”

The case Birt vs. Barlow, 1 Doug. 170, was a mere question of identity of the parties named in the copy of the register of the parish ; and it was held such identity might be proved by others than the subscribing witnesses.

"the ca-se Rigg vs. Curgenven, 2 Wils. 195, the court say, arguendo; “but if it were proved (in action for orim. con?) that the defendant had seri-oug]y or solemnly recognized, that he knew the woman he had lain with was the wife of the plaintiff, we think it would be evidence, proper to be left to the jury, without proving the marriage.” But the question did not arise in the case then before the court. It was merely a dictum of the court in reply to an argument of one of the counsel in the case, and can hardly be relied upon as authority.

In every case in England, to which our attention has been directed, or which we have been able to find, relating to the questions under consideration, cohabitation, acknowledgement and reputation, have been held insufficient to prove marriage.

Mr. Starkie, in his work on evidence, vol. 2,' page 252, says: “ When, however, the defendant has seriously and solemnly recognized the marriage, it seems, upon principle, that his acknowledgement is admissible in evidence of the factand he cites the case of Morris vs. Miller, 2 Burr.; but an examination of that case, hardly warrants the conclusion of the author.

In some of the United States, the English rule has been very considerably relaxed, and in others it has been adhered to, in all its original strictness, and has even derived increased stringency from a partial view of the points decided in the cases supposed to establish the rule.

In the State of New York, in the case of The People vs. Humphrey, 7 Johns, R., 314; the’ prisoner was indicted for bigamy. The marriage of the defendant with A. S., on the first of August, was duly proved. It was also proved that a short time afterwards, a person calling herself Elizabeth Humphrey, and the wife of the prisoner, appeared before a magistrate and charged him with the crime of bigamy., On his examination before the magistrate, the prisoner voluntarily acknowledged that Elizabeth, who was then present, was his wife, and that they had been married about four years before. Objection was made to the evidence, as not being sufficient evidence of marriage in fact, to prove the first marriage. The objection was overruled and the prisoner convicted. Judgment having been suspended, the defendant was brought up on a habeas corpus, and the question submitted to the court. The court said: “ In Morris vs. Miller, 4 Burr., Lord Mansfield held, that in prosecutions for bigamy, as well as actions fpr crim. con., a marriage in fact must be proved, and the same rule was recognized in Birt vs. Barlow, Doug. 171. The mere confession of a party is not sufficient evidence. The prisoner must be discharged.”

We-have already seen what was, in substance, scope and extent, the decision in those cases. The effect of the decision, in these two cases cited, in the brief opinion of the court, in the above case, is certainly misapprehended. In the case of Birt vs. Barlow, Lord Mansfield only decided, that it was not necessary to call the subscribing witnesses to a marriage certificate to prove the identity of the parties named in the register, but that it might be proved by other evidence. In Morris vs. Miller, the court only say, that: “ In this kind of action (crim. con.,) there must be evidence of marriage in fact. Acknowledgement, cohabitation and reputation, are not sufficient.” Andin the same breath, the court say: “ But wé do not, at Presenb define what may or may not be evidence of a marriage in fact.”

In Massachusetts, in tbe case of The Commonwealth vs. Littlejohn and Barbarick, 15 Mass. 163, it was held, that cohabitation, acknowledgement and reputation were not sufficient proof of marriage, to sustain an indictment for lascivious cohabitation.

So in Connecticut; State vs. Roswell, 6 Conn. Rep. 444; on an information for the crime of incest, alleged to have been committed by the defendant, with his legitimate daughter, Anna Eoswell; proof was admitted of the prisoner’s confessions, at various times, that Anna E. was his daughter ; that her mother, Sarah Eoswell, was his lawful wife, accompanied with evidence, that they had lived and cohabited together, uninterruptedly, for more than thirty years, &c. A majority of the court held that such proof was inadmissible, and held to the rule requiring strict proof of marriage in fact;

In all these decisions, the English cases before cited, are relied upon as authority, and are held by the court to establish an indexible rule of evidence, to which they were bound to adhere.

On the other hand, it seems to us, from a careful review of the English cases, and after an earnest effort to comprehend the purport and extent of the English authorities, that the utmost length to which they have gone, is, that the mere idle declarations of the defendant, or his assertions made, palpably, or probably for another purpose, than to charge upon himself all the consequences of the admission; or, those declarations or givings out, which one living in a state of concubinage would naturally make, for the mere purpose of screening himself from prosecution or social censure, together with cohabitation and reputation, are not sufficient to charge the defendant, where marriage is essential to the constitution of the crime.

t , For, it is certain, m the primary and leading case on this point, Lord Mansfield says, “We do not at present define what may, or what may not, he evidence of a marriage in fact.” What is decided by this adjudication is, that there must be proof of marriage in fact. But in no single case does any one pretend to define the nature or kind of evidence competent or adequate to such proof.

In Pennsylvania, the question of the nature and kind of evidence competent to be offered, in order to prove marriage in an action for crim. con., has been ably, if not elaborately considered, in the case of Forney vs. Hallacher, 8 Sergt. & R. 159. The evidence rejected in that case by the court below, was founded upon the declarations of the party defendant, that he knew Susannah Forney was married to the plaintiff and that with full knowledge of that fact, he seduced her affections and debauched her; that he lived with her in a state of adultery and begat her child, which child was born alive. The Supreme Court overruled the court below, and held the evidence admissible.

So, in Commonwealth vs. Mentaugh, 1 Ashmead, 272, where it was held, that the confession of the defendant, in a prosecution for bigamy, is adequte evidence of marriage.

In Maine, Cayford's case, 7 Greenleaf's Rep. 57, on an indictment for lewd and lascivious cohabitation, the proof was, “that the prisoner removed from New Hampshire into Maine about twenty years since. Soon after, he sent a person after his “ xoife and family,” wbo brought to Lira a -woman and two children, whom he received and treated as his wife and children, call-ini? the woman his wife. They continued to live to- ^ # ^ 4 gether as man and wife upwards of ten years, during which time he went to England, where, he said, they were married, to obtain the property inherited by his wife, which, on his return, he said he had obtained, to a large amount.” This evidence was objected to by the defendant’s counsel, and admitted. A conviction followed, and the point was reserved.

The Supreme Court held the evidence admissible, and sufficient. It should be remarked, that in this case the court took a distinction between foreign and domestic marriages ; and, in the case in 8 Sergt. a/nd Mcrnle, a distinction was taken between the population, circumstances, and condition of this country and of England.

It is also to be remarked, that, from the authorities cited, it by no means appeal's, that the doctrine, that solemn, deliberate confessions of the defendant are to be excluded from the consideration of the jury.

It is also proper to be observed here, that, from all that has been observed, on a review of the leading cases and of those which have followed them, some of which may have enlarged, and others circumscribed the scope of their authority, no clear, definite rule has been established, by which the nature or kind of evidence competent to prove a marriage in fact, when that is essential to be proved, has been established. Erom such definition the court, with Lord Mansfield at its head, shrank in Morris vs. Miller. It becomes our duty to meet the exigencies of this case according to the best lights which are before us, and in full view of the responsibility upon us.

It will "be conceded, it is presumed, that in criminal cases, where marriage is alleged in an indictment, and a marriage is essential to constitute the crime charged npon the defendant, a marriage in fact mnst be proved by competent, adequate evidence.

It will also be conceded, that in the case at bar, marriage is essential to be averred, in order to constitute the crime, when it is not committed by an unmarried man under promise of marriage.

The question then is, simply, what is competent evidence to prove marriage in fact where marriage is essential to the constitution of the offence ?

It is evident that a distinction is to be made between the proof necessary to sustain an action for crim. con., and an indictment for bigamy, lascivious cohabitation, or seduction. In the former, the plaintiff seeks to recover damages for the loss of comfort derived from the society of his wife, <fcc. The fact of the plaintiff’s marriage is peculiarly within his own knowledge. If the woman seduced be not in fact his wife, though he may have cohabited with her almost a life-time as such, in contemplation of law, he has sustained no injury or loss, and has no claim to dama-ges. Hence the necessity that the plaintiff shall establish,by irrefragable, unquestionable proof, the social relation, by the abruption of which he declares himself injured, and for which he seeks compensation. Hot so in the prosecution by the government for bigamy. Hot so in a prosecution for lascivious cohabitation, or in an indictment for seduction. In these latter cases, it is the marriage of the defendant himself, which is essential to the constitution of the offence. This fact is peculiarly within his own knowledge. Why then should not his solemn, deliberate declarations, or confessions received in evidence ? Proof of cohabitation alone is not sufficient, or competent, because *s ^00 without marriage. Declara--¡¿ons of tbe defendant, made idly, or with a view to shield himself from prosecution, or public censure, while living in a state of concubinage — such as introducing the woman with whom he cohabits as his wife, acknowledgements of the írelation of husband and wife, and the like, are not receivable in evidence, nor the common reputation of that relation which naturally springs from cohabitation. So, also, declarations made to parry social criticism,, or to avoid legal inquisition, are of little or no weight. But, marriage in fact, is the point to be established by proof. A confession, therefore, of the fact of marriage; not of the relation of husband and wife, by assuming its characteristics ; a distinct, unequivocal confession, seriously and solemnly made, of the fact of the marriage rite having been performed ; such as a distinct reference to the ceremony or occasion of the marriage, as an event, it would seem, ought to be admitted, and if by the jury believed to have been made truly and sincerely, and not to evade the consequences of an illegal cohabitation, should be held sufficient.

This view seems to be sustained by the comments of the accredited authors upon the law of evidence, as well as by. several adjudications in prosecutions for bigamy, in which the facts of the defendant’s marriage was the gist of the offence.

In the case of Birt vs. Barlow, before cited, Lord Mansfield, in speaking of the case of Morris vs. Miller, observes, “ but an action for criminal conversation has a mixture of penal prosecution, for which reason, and because it may be turned to bad purposes, by persons giving the name and character of wife to women to whom they are not married, it struck me in the case of Morris vs. Miller, that in such an action . . 7 a marriage m fact must "be proved ”

In Trueman's case, East. P. C. 465-469, quoted in 2 8tarhie on Ev., 654, indictment for bigamy, the cohabitation of the prisoner with Mary Russell was proved, and it was also proved that he had admitted that he had married her in Scotland; and it was proved that he showed a paper, which he said was a certificate of his marriage, and which was shown to be a writing which purported to be a proceeding before a court in Scotland against the prisoner and Mary Russell, for having married in a clandestine manner, upon which they appeared, acknowledged their marriage, and were fined 100 marks. The second marriage having been proved, the prisoner was convicted and his conviction held to be right. Here was a distinct admission, not of the relation of husband and wife merely, but of the actual fact of marrying the particular woman. Distinct reference is made to the time, the occasion, the place where, and the incidents connected with the fact of marriage. In a note to StarMe's Ev., 655, it is said, “I have known a prisoner to be convicted of bigamy upon proof of his deliberate admission of both marriages in the presence of his first wife before a magistrate.” All these cases and authorities, so far from excluding evidence of the solemn, deliberate confessions of the act of marriage* clearly sustain the doctrine of their competency.

But the court, in the case at bar, charged the jury “ that proof of cohabitation by the defendant, as husband and wife, is evidence of a marriage in this case.” This certainly, according to all the authori-^es> wrong- K contemplates proof of cohabita-as husband and wife, and that only. It asserts the doctrine that cohabitation, as husband and wife, is competent evidence to sustain a prosecution in a criminal case, where marriage is essential to constitute the crime. The authority derived from all the cases, is clearly against this proposition. The same rule applies to proof of all those circumstances incidental to cohabition, such as the social recognition of the woman as his wife, calling her by his name, <fcc.,because all these may be assumed merely to prevent criticism, or stifle inquiry.

We hold, in view of all the authorities, and in consideration of the reasons upon which the rule of evidence in cases of this hind should be based, that the fact of marriage of the defendant should be proved ; that this fact may be proved by an examined copy of the register of marriage solemnized, where registry of marriages is, by law, required to be kept, together with proof of identity of the parties, by some person present at the solemnization of the marriage, or by the distinct, solemn, unequivocal confession or admission, by defendant, of the fact of marriage. By the latter, we mean an admission which has reference to, and clearly recognizes the act or ceremony of marriage, or circumstances or incidents, clearly pointing tothesolemization of the event of marriage, in contradistinction to those pretences5 acknowledgements or givings out, which may be put on or assumed for the mere purpose of evading censure or criticism.

4. The statute defining the offence of seduction, requires, that the female alleged to have been seduced? should be unmarried. This condition of the female is as much an essential element, in the crime, as is the marriage of the defendant. It is true it is a negative, hut it is one of the few negatives requisite^ to be proved, and for which only slight proof is necessary. In this case, the prosecutrix was living, at the time of, and a witness on the trial. The proof was neither difficult to be obtained, nor of doubtful character. It was so easily to be adduced, that its omission is remarkable. The unmarried condition -df the female ought to have been established, and as all of the circumstances enumerated by the learned judge who gave the instruction excepted to, are reconcilable with the hypothesis of her marriage, one established rule of circumstantial evidence seems to have been overlooked, viz : that the circumstances by which a fact is sought to be established, must be incompatible with any other hypothesis.

But, it is objected by the counsel for the defendant, that the facts show, that if any crime at all was committed, it was the crime of rape, and not of seduction. To this it may be answered, that the facts proved were fairly submitted to the jury, and we learn, from the remarks of the counsel for the defendant, during the argument at bar, that this point was pressed upon the jury, at the trial, and by them pas. sed upon. It is not for this court to say, or to conjecture, what may have been their finding upon the evidence, as jurors. Nor are we disposed to criticise the verdict .of the jury, even if they failed to exercise the nicest logical acumen, upon evidence, which, if true, indicates the successful efforts of the defend" ant, in lighting the torch of senile lust to lay waste the future of female innocence and youth. Nor does it, in fact, appear, from an examination of the evidence, that the jury, so far, yielded to temptation to swerve from their allegiance to those fixed rules, which ^011^ exPerieilce and venerable authority have estab-figged for our safe guide in the administration of the criminal law, as to require the corrective interposition of this court. Nor should the defendant complain that he has been found guilty of a misdemeanor only, upon evidence, which, as he alleges, proves upon him the most atrocious felony.

Again, it is alleged for error, that before the trial commenced, the defendant, by his counsel, moved the court for an attachment against one Ashel Broohs, who, it appeared, had been duly subpoenaed to attend as a witness on behalf of the defendant, and who had been in attendance, but had left and gone home the day before the trial; which said motion was overruled by the court, on the ground that no fees had been paid or tendered to the witness.

It is not perceived by us, how this can well be alleged for error in this case. No motion for a continuance appears to have been made on account of the absence of the witness. But the counsel for the defendant, as well as the attorney general, have entered into the discussion of this question, and request our opinion upon it. It is alleged that it has been determined both ways in the different circuits, and that it is desirable to have the law settled. Under these circumstances we have entertained, and will give our opinion upon the point.

It was, anciently, the commonly received practice, in the common law courts, that no counsel should be allowed the defendant upon his trial upon the general issue, in any capital crime, unless some point of law arose, proper to be debated. Several reasons are given for this rule ; perhaps the "best, if not the most facetious, that could he devised, is that given hy Sir Edward Coke, which is, “ because the evidence to convict the prisoner should he so manifest as it could not he contradicted.” So, also, the doctrine was held, that as counsel was not allowed to any prisoner accused of a capital crime, so neither should he he allowed to exculpate himself hy the testimony of any witnesses. This practice seems first to have heen broken in upon hy Mary I, upon the appointment of Sir Richard Morgan, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. At length the enormous injustice of the rule became so oppressive to the consciences of the courts that the practice of examining witnesses for the prisoner, without oath, gradually grew up. But the iniquity of this practice was as obvious as that of the old rule. The witnesses for the crown testified under oath, and however solemnly or truly, or reasonably they might testify, the evidence produced hy the prisoner, wanted the sanction of an oath, and lost its just weight in the estimation of the jury. At different times afterwards the rule was so modified hy acts of parliament, as to admit the examination of witnesses on oath, in behalf of the defendant, in particular cases, until at length, it was declared hy statute (1 Ann. St. 2 c. 9,) “ that in all cases of treason and felony, all witnesses for the prisoner should he examined upon oath, in like manner as the witnesses against him.”

A recurrence to the history of the law upon this subject,''"affords us essential aid in deducing the equitable principle of the law which effected its reformation. The same principle which would require that the witnesses for the prisoner should he examined on oa^) in like manner as the witness against Mm, also requires, for its full satisfaction, like process to ob. tain tkeir attendence on the trial. It would be, in # 1 many cases, but bitter mockery to grant a prisoner the right to have witnesses- examined in his behalf and then to deny him the necessary process of law to procure their attendance. And in conformity with the full equity of the rule, the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, declares “that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel for assistance in his defence, and to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf.”

The justice and humanity of this rule must be apparent to every one. The State, when it becomes the party in a criminal prosecution, occupies a very different position from a party plaintiff in a civil ac_ tion. It is as much interested in vindicating the innocence of one wrongfully accused, as in convicting one who is really guilty. The sole object of the prosecution is, to ascertain the truth, and to maintain the law. Its process should be as ready, therefore in behalf of the accused, as against him, for the sole purpose of such process is, to procure the attendance of witnesses, by whom the truth is to be established.

The right to compulsory process, secured by the provisions of the Constitution, above referred to, cannot be taken away by legislative enactment, and ought not to be hampered by judicial construction. The legislature, so far from attempting to restrict tMs right, have expressly recognized it, and provided ample means for its full enjoyment. Section 8, of chapter 146, of the Revised Statutes, page 124, is in the following words : “ It shall not he necessary to pay or tender any fees to any witness who is sub-pcenaed in any criminal prosecution, but every such witness shall be bound to attend, and be punishable for non-attendance, in the same manner as if the fees allowed by law had been paid him.” By no rule of construction, can this section be restricted to witnesses subpoenaed on behalf of the State. It is evidently enacted in aid of the constitutional guaranty above mentioned, and includes, as well the witnesses for the defendant, as those for the State.

But, it is urged, that this section of the statute, if held to refer to witnesses summoned on behalf of the defendant, is repugnant to that provision of the Constitution, which provides that “the property of no person shall be"taken for public use, without just compensation therefor.” The time and labor of attendance of the witness are said to be as much property, within the meaning of the Constitution, as are chattels or land. But if this be so, then, it is difficult to perceive why the 8th section of chapter 146, above quoted, is not equally repugnant to the Constitution, whether the witnesses named therein are to be considered as witnesses for the State exclusively, or, as for either or both parties, for the demand upon them is imperative without offer of compensation. Nor is it any answer, to say, that the State is liable to pay its witnesses, for a precisely similar liability of the defendant may be replied.

But, in no just sense, can the requisition upon the citizen of his attendance upon the courts to testify as a witness, be considered as the taking of private property for public use, within the meaning of the Constitution. The object of that provision in the funda-raen'fcal law, was to protect the citizen from the grasping demands of government, not to absolve him from any Ik086 various personal duties which every good citizen owes to his country ; such as the performance of militia duty, obedience to the call of the proper authority for his personal service in suppressing a riot, the apprehension of a felon, affording assistance to officers in making arrests when resisted, and the like. There are very many instances in which the citizen is required to perform personal service, or render aid to his government, without other compensation than that of his participation in the general good, and his enjoyment of the general security and advantage which results from common acquiesence in such obligations on the part of all the citizens alike, and which is essential to the existence and safety of society.

This doctrine, so clearly in harmony with the spirit of our Constitution and laws, seems to follow naturally from the recognition of the right of the prisoner to have witnesses sworn and examined on his behalf, as we have before attempted to show. And accordingly, in England, after the establishment of that right, by act of parliament, it seems to have been held, that a witness subpoenaed by the defendant in a criminal case, was bound to appear'and testify, although no fees had been paid or tendered him. 1 Starkie's Ev. 85; 2 Hawk. P. C. c. 46, § 172; Rex vs. Ring, 8 T. R. 585; 2 Russ, on cr. 948; 1 Carr & Payne, 409.

We hold, therefore, that a witness is bound to obey the process of subpoena in a criminal prosecution, as well on the part of the defendant, as on that of the State,- without payment or tender of fees.

But it does not follow, that the refusal, by the court, to grant an attachment against the witness for non-attendance, is error. The award of the attachment rests in the sound discretion of the court, to ' 4 whom application was made, and whose process is disobeyed. It is somewhat like a motion for continuance, or new trial, and other like matters addressed to the discretion of the court, the refusel of which is not necessarily error, and only becomes so when that discretion is clearly abused, to the manifest injury of the party, or to the perversion of justice. No such abuse, nor indeed any abuse of discretion, appears in this case. It is true, the defendant in his affidavit, alleges that the witness was material. But he does not apply for a continuance on account of his absence; he does not state that he cannot prove the same facts by other witnesses, or that he cannot safely proceed to trial without his testimony; nor does any fact appear, that, in the least evinces an improper exercise of the discretion of the court. All that does appear is, that the court assigned an erroneous reason for its judgment, which may, for aught that is apparent upon the record, have been correct.

We have gone over the errors assigned in this case, at length, in order to discover and establish the proper principles of law which should be observed in the adjudication of this and the like cases, brought under a statute comparatively new, and'one, the construction of which is little aided by analogy or authority.

The rule of evidence here laid down, it is believed, is in conformity with sound reason and the requirements of substantial justice, and sustained by the leading authorities in England, and by eminent jurists in this country. It sufficiently guards the rights of the individual, but yet does not deny to the State the means of punishing the guilty. The rule adopted in the case in 6 Conn. Rep., State vs. Roswell, would operate in this State, in nine cases out of ten, as a comp]_e-te immunity to offenders, when proof of marriage is essential to conviction. With the exception of a very few small localities, no marriages, or, at least, a very few, had been solemnized within this State, or Territory, as early as fifteen years ago. Comparatively few are living here, whose marriage was solemnized in the State. Perhaps one-third, or even a greater proportion, were married in Europe, according to the laws of different governments ; and of Americans, almost all were married in some one of the other States of this Union. It will be perceived, therefore, that the adoption of the stringent rule of evidence, contended for, and sanctioned by a majority of the court in 6 Conn. Rep. would be virtually a withdrawal of the protection of law from the marriage relation, because in nine cases out of ten, proof of that kind and degree would be utterly impracticable, and the prosecution of indictments for bigamy or seduction would require an examination of the registries of every Kingdom and Duchy of Europe, and of every State in the Union. Neither reason nor authority require of us the sanction of such a doctrine.

Nor are we inclined to throw obstacles in the way of the due enforcement of this statute, nor to question the wisdom of its enactment. If the evidence set forth in this bill of exceptions be true, this is a case which abundantly illustrates its policy and justice. A child of the tender age of fourteen yeans, is taken from the paternal roof, by a man of age and experience, a husband and a father, and a preacher of the Gospel, to live in his family, with the promise of protection and instruction; ignorant of danger, of passion, and of temptation, she is confided to fiis care ; she joins the circle of his fireside ; she attends upon his instruction; she listens to his prayers; she is at once his servant and his pupil; he is her guardian and her teacher, and for a time his relation to her is almost paternal. "What child would dream of harm ? What parent would think to warn of danger ? If all these sacred considerations are not sufficient to abash lechery and subdue lust, then, indeed, it is high time for the lawgiver to proclaim his sanctions, and for the courts to take care that they be not evaded.

But, if this prosecution be a wicked scheme, suggested by malice to ruin the innocent and worthy, doubtless the searching scrutiny of the law and its ministers will be found competent to its detection and exposure.

A new trial is awarded.