Paddock v. Robinson

This was an action for a breach of promise of marriage. On the trial the court, against the objection of defendant, permitted the plaintiff to prove promises of marriage made at a time when both parties were married and known to be so by each other. We can not understand how an action can be maintained on such a promise. It can not be performed except upon the death or divorce of the husband of the one party, and the wife of the other; and to hold that it is valid because it may be performed in such a contingency, would be to introduce into social life a dangerous and immoral principle. Only…