Opinion
(March Term, 1797.)
Naked confessions, unattended with circumstances, are not sufficient to convict of a capital crime.
INDICTMENT for horse-stealing, upon which the evidence was that the horse was missing, and about three days afterwards two men came with the horse, and Long tied, to the house of the owner. Long confessed to the owner he had taken the horse, and begged forgiveness. The two men who brought him were not present at the trial, and there was no other circumstance proved in the case.
Where A makes a confession, and relates circumstances which are proven to have actually existed as related in the confession, that may be evidence sufficient for a jury to proceed upon to convict the prisoner; but a naked confession, unattended with circumstances, is not sufficient. A confession, from the very nature of the thing, is a very doubtful species of evidence, and to be received with great caution. It is hardly to be supposed that a man perfectly possessed of himself would make a confession to take away his own life. It must generally proceed from a promise or hope of favor, or from a dread of punishment, and in such situations the mind is agitated — the man may be easily tempted to go further than the truth. Besides, the witness, respecting the confession, may have mistaken his meaning. How easy is it to understand the speaking differently from what he meant; and the smallest mistake in this particular might prove fatal. As there are no confirmatory circumstances in the present case, it is better to acquit the prisoner.
The jury found him not guilty.