Confidential communications

These are certain classes of communications, passing between persons who stand in a confidential or fiduciary relation to each other, (or who, on account of their relative situation, are under a special duty of secrecy and fidelity,) which the law will not permit to be divulged, or allow them to be inquired into in a court of justice, for the sake of public policy and the good order of society. Examples of such privileged relations are those of husband and wife and attorney and client.

Hatton v. Robinson, 14 Pick. (Mass.) 416, 25 Am. Dec. 415; Parker v. Carter, 4 Munf. (Va.) 287, 6 Am. Dec. 513; Chirac v. Reinickee, 11 Wheat 280 , 6 L. Ed. 474; Parkhurst v. Berdell, 110 N. Y. 386, 18 N. E. 123, 6 AmStRep384,