Court: |
Maine Supreme Court |
|
Facts: |
Prosecution for adultery: the wife was already married. They
had consulted with a justice of the peace, and he told them
it would be OK. |
|
Posture: |
Guilty at trial, presumably. |
|
Issue: |
Should evidence about their mistaken belief have been accepted? |
|
Holding: |
No. Affirmed. |
|
Rule: |
Adultery requires intent, and they had it. A mistaken belief about
the law does not negate intent. |
|
Reasoning: |
They were guilty of negligence and fault taking the magistrate at
his word. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. |
|
Dicta: |
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