Responsa for Bava Metzia 33:17
א"ל מי קא אמינא דלא פרעי כלל דלא שכיחי אינשי דפרעי ביומיה קא אמינא
This [decision] was conveyed to R. Abbahu, [whereupon] he said: R. Abin's decision seems right [in a case where] the oath was imposed upon [the defendant] by a Court of Law,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he refused to take the oath imposed on him by the Court, although he was called upon by the plaintiff to do so in the presence of witnesses, he cannot be believed if he asserts that he took the oath later in the absence of witnesses. ');"><sup>16</sup></span>
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. Rachel's husband became an apostate. She gave him one-half mark as the price of his granting her a divorce. After the divorce was delivered, the witnesses to the instrument went to R's father, and with his permission tore up R's ketubah. A had in his possession a deposit belonging to R's husband. R demanded that A give her the deposit in payment of her ketubah. The apostate, on the other hand, threatened A with great injury unless he returned the deposit to him.
A. Although the tearing of R's ketubah by her father does not cancel the apostate's obligation to R, A may not be forced to risk his life or property by handing over the deposit to R. A, therefore, should try to settle with the apostate for as little as possible, and give the remainder to R.
This Resp. is addressed to "my teachers and relatives, R. Joseph Kohen and R. Jacob."
SOURCES: Cr. 288; Pr. 974; Tesh. Maim. to Nezikim, 7; Mordecai Hagadol, p. 194b; ibid. p. 379c.
A. Although the tearing of R's ketubah by her father does not cancel the apostate's obligation to R, A may not be forced to risk his life or property by handing over the deposit to R. A, therefore, should try to settle with the apostate for as little as possible, and give the remainder to R.
This Resp. is addressed to "my teachers and relatives, R. Joseph Kohen and R. Jacob."
SOURCES: Cr. 288; Pr. 974; Tesh. Maim. to Nezikim, 7; Mordecai Hagadol, p. 194b; ibid. p. 379c.
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