Opinion

Gibson v. State

  • 22 Ala. App. 563
  • 117 So. 762
  • 1928 Ala. App. LEXIS 221
Court
Alabama Court of Appeals
Filed
Jun 30, 1928
Status
Published
Author
Samford
On the bench
Samford
Cited by
1 cases
Authority
More cited than 47.6%

The opinion

SAMFORD, J.

To constitute adultery under the laws of this state, there must be proof of at least one act of illicit sexual' intercourse, with an agreement, either expressed or implied, to continue the relationship as desire and opportunity offer. The statute is directed against a

state

or

condition

of cohabitation which the parties intend to continue so long as they may choose. Brown v. State, 108 Ala. 18 , 18 So. 811 .

There is testimony in this case which might tend to prove one act of intimacy between the defendant and a woman, which would authorize a jury to infer an act of illicit intercourse; but the testimony as to this was by one witness, who admits his ill will against defendant, and the facts testified to by him as to his opportunity for seeing what he testified to casts a very dark shadow over his deposition. For instance, this witness said he saw .defendant and the King woman in the bed together. It was in a dark

*564

room, at night, no lights in the room. He was on the outside of the room with a lantern and he saw them through the door crack, which was open about three inches. Our knowledge of physical conditions leads us to discredit a statement, which would be impossible. Opposed to this is the direct testimony of several unimpeached witnesses directly contradicting all that this witness testified to. Aside from the testimony of the above witness there is no evidence tending to prove the crime charged. There is much evidence tending to establish the innocence of defendant. After a careful reading of this entire record the court is of the opinion that the defendant’s motion for a new trial should have been granted, and we so hold. Scott v. Scott, 215 Ala. 684 , 112 So. 218 .

The judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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