State v. Cleveland Grover
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
Exceptions by defendant. Tlie defendant was indicted, tried and found guilty under IÍ. S., of Maine, e. 1 L9, § 1, for wilfully and maliciously setting fire to the dwelling-house of another with intent to bum and burning the same in tlie night time.
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Exceptions by defendant. Tlie defendant was indicted, tried and found guilty under IÍ. S., of Maine, e. 1 L9, § 1, for wilfully and maliciously setting fire to the dwelling-house of another with intent to bum and burning the same in tlie night time. The defendant took exceptions to the rulings of the presiding justice in admitting the testimony of two witnesses as to a confession made to them b)r the respondent, on the ground that tlie confessions were obtained by inducements or threats and were therefore not voluntary.
1Opinion of the CourtEmery, J.
The exceptions in this case raise the question of the legal admissibility in evidence of extrajudicial confessions by the respondent in a trial for crime. The decided cases upon this question are so numerous and conflicting that it is useless to attempt their consideration. They vary in different jurisdictions, and also from time to time in the same jurisdiction. Hence we shall content ourselves with the statement of a feiv principles and with few citations.
Confessions by the respondent that he committed the offense for which he is being tried have prima facie some probative force, and hence…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Commonwealth v. PreeceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1885
- Commonwealth v. CulverMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1879
3Cited by26 opinions
- State v. CollinsSupreme Judicial Court of Maine · 1972
- Nickels v. StateSupreme Court of Florida · 1925
- State v. WarnerSupreme Judicial Court of Maine · 1967
- Berry v. StateCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma · 1910
- State v. TigheMontana Supreme Court · 1903
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