Chapter CCXXII. relating to the Law of Evidence in the District of Columbia
321 words·~1 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-13/chapter-ccxxii-1653605·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Chap. CCXXII.— An Act relating to the Law of Evidence in the District of Columbia.July 2, 1864. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,* ThatParties and persons interested may be witnesses in civil suits in the District of Columbia. on the trial of any issue joined, or of any matter or question, or on any inquiry arising in any suit, action, or other proceeding in any court of justice in the District of Columbia, or before any person having by law, or by consent of parties, authority to hear, receive, and examine evidence within said District, the parties thereto, and the persons in whose behalf any such action or other proceeding may be brought or defended, and any and all persons interested in the same, shall, except as hereinafter excepted, be competent and compellable to give evidence, either viva voce or by deposition, according to the practice of the court, on behalf of either or any of the parties to the said action or other proceeding:Limitations to the rule. *Provided,* That nothing herein contained shall render any person who is charged with any offence in any criminal proceeding competent or compellable to give evidence for or against himself or herself, or shall render any person compellable toTHIRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Sess. I. Ch. 223, 224, 225. 1864.375 answer any question tending to criminate himself or herself, or shall in any criminal proceeding render any husband competent or compellable to give evidence for or against his wife, or any wife competent or compel-lable to give evidence for or against her husband, or in any proceeding instituted in consequence of adultery; nor shall any husband be com-pellable to disclose any communication made to him by his wife during the marriage, nor shall any wife be compellable to disclose any communication made to her by her husband during the marriage.
Approved, July 2, 1864.