For anyone who runs into the same problem I did.. Loading the below libraries will enable you to load the bottom code.. You'll need LWP also, but that's not shown here. You need to install IO::Socket::SSL and Net::SSLeay. Examples of how to install here <credits to fokat above>. 
sudo perl -MCPAN -e shell
look Net::SSLeay
perl Makefile.PL -t
make install

[download]
Example test code: 
#!/usr/bin/perl
use LWP::Simple;
my $url ='https://www.paypal.com'; #Notice the s in httpS
my $content = get $url;
print $content;

[download]

In reply to redone on new mac by ecuguru
in thread https on OSX 10.3 crypto failure by ecuguru

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