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Willard Smith
(19th century) U.S.A.

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Sodomite

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The first reported sodomy case in Massachusetts was Commonwealth v. James Snow, decided in 1873. This was a case of consensual sodomy involving James Snow and Willard Smith, that led to remorse on the part of Willard Smith, who attempted suicide.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that Willard Smith, the solicited party, was an accomplice, and that his testimony needed corroboration. The corroboration offered was deemed sufficient by the Court, and Snow's conviction was affirmed.

Massachusetts was the fourth of the twelve colonies with a death penalty for sodomy to reduce the penalty to a term of imprisonment. Although that perhaps is surprising considering its history of puritanism, the residual penalty still was severe. The state recognized only the common-law definition of sodomy, thus freeing Lesbians from prosecution.

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Source: http://www.glapn.org/

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