ART. 35 COMPETENCY OF WITNESSES. 1091

shall not apply to pending cases nor in anywise affect the
present rights of litigants therein.

Neidig v. Whiteford, 29 Md. 178. Cooke v. Cooke, 29 Md. 538. Smith v.
Wood, 31 Md. 293. Ward v. Leitch, 31 Md 326. Schull v. Murray, 32 Md.
9. Carman v. Crook, 32 Md. 486. Billingslea v. Waid, 33 Md. 46. Johnson
v. Heald, 33 Md. 352. McKaig v. Piatt, 34 Md. 260 Foley v. Bitter, 34 Md.
646. Denison v. Denison, 35 Md. 381. Miller v. Mottei, 35 Md. 432.
Jones v Jones, 36 Md. 457. Downs v. Md. & Del. R. R. Co., 37 Md. 100.
Redgrave v. Redgrave, 38 Md. 96. Semmes v Worthington, 38 Md. 324.
Estep v. Morns, 38 Md. 417. Harris v Pue, 39 Md. 535. Romer v. Jaecksch,
39 Md. 585. Mason v. Poulson, 40 Md. 355 Sanborn v. Lang, 41 Md. 107.
Armitage v Snowden, 41 Md 119. Hammett v. Shanks, 41 Md 219 Murray
v. Cannon, 41 Md. 475. Spencer v. Trafford, 42 Md. 17. McKaig v. Hebb,
42 Md. 231. Mason v. Poulson, 43 Md. 177. Graves v. Spedden, 46 Md.
538. First Nat. Bank of Washington v. Eccleston, 48 Md. 145. Orendorf
v. Utz, 48 Md. 304. Stanford v. Horwitz, 49 Md. 525. Wright v. Gilbert,

51 Md. 155. Hardy v. Chesapeake Bank, 51 Md. 562. Sangston v. Hack,

52 Md. 201. Bantz v. Bantz, 52 Md. 686. Simmons v. Hass, 56 Md. 165
Spencer v. Almoney, 56 Md. 561. Swartz v. Chickering, 58 Md. 290.
Diffenbaeh v. Vogeler, 60 Md. 379. Dilley v. Love, 61 Md. b07. Trayhem
v. Colburn, 63 Md. 105. Horner v. Frazier, 65 Md 10. Neale v. Hermanns,
65 Md. 478. Grand United Order of Odd Fellows Joint Stock Asso v.
Merklin, 65 Md. 584. Robertson v. Mowell, 66 Md. 534. South Balto
Co. v. Muhlbach, 69 Md. 401. Gunther v. Bennett, 72 Md, 364. Webster v.
LeCompte, 74 Md. 250. Whitndge v. Whitridge, 76 Md 76. Biggs v.
MeCurley, 76 Md. 409. Bowie v. Bowie, 77 Md. 311. Warth v. Brafman,
85 Md. 675. Welnecke v. Arbin, 87 Md. 186 Flack v Gottschalk,' 88
Md 377. Polk v. Clark, 92 Md. 373. Brewer v. Bowersox, 92 Md. 576. Gill
v. Staylor, 93 Md. 470.

1888, art. 35, sec. 3. 1860, art. 37, sec 3. 1864, ch. 109, sec. 3.
1876, ch. 357 1888, ch. 545.

4. In the trial of all indictments, complaints and other pro-
ceedings against persons charged with the commission of crimes
and offenses, and in all proceedings in the nature of criminal
proceedings in any court of this State, and before a justice of
the peace or other officer acting judicially, the person so charged
shall at his own request, but not otherwise, be deemed a com-
petent witness; but the neglect or refusal of any such person
to testify shall not create any presumption against him. In
all criminal proceedings the husband or wife of the accused
party shall be competent to testify; but in no case, civil or
criminal, shall any husband or wife be competent to disclose
any confidental communication made by the one to the other
during the marriage; and in suits, actions, bills or other pro-