Anonymous Letter
Anonymous Letter, Clergyman
From the book The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law, about Anonymous Letter, Clergyman (1): Where a priest received an anonymous letter alleged to have been written by a defendant, which he read to her, he was not disqualified from testifying that she was excited and that she stated she had no idea how the fire started, and that the letter was unknown to her, etc.400 The mere fact that a communication is made to a clergyman does not make it privileged. It is privileged only when made in confidence of the relation and under such circumstances as to imply that it should forever remain a secret in the breast of the confidential adviser.401 When a matter is privileged, it is not left to the witness whether or not he shall testify concerning it; but he can not testify without the consent of the other party.402
Resources
Notes and References
- Charles M. Scanlan, The Clergyman’s Hand-book of Law. The Law of Church and Grave (1909), Benziger Brothers, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago
See Also
- Religion
- Church
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