People v. Kirby

The rule stated by Mr. Justice Moore that the corpus delicti may not be proven by an extrajudicial confession alone seems to be well established in this State, since People v. Lane, 49 Mich. 340, was decided. It has been consistently followed in the cases cited and quoted from by him. The reason for this rule is stated in the early case of People v. Lambert, 5 Mich. 349, 366, where it is said that “confessions made extra judicially are of ter misunderstood, and easily perverted.” That the corpus delicti may be proven by circumstantial as well as by direct evidence admits of no doubt under our…