Case ID: dall_1/html/0123-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "By the Court.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Davison’s Lessee versus Bloomer.
    A DEED, attested by two witnesses, one of whom had married the Lessor of the plaintiff, the other residing within the County and not produced, was offered in evidence, upon proof of the hand writing of the witnesses.
    
      Hartly
    
    objected, that it would be better evidence to prove the execution of the deed by the absent witness, not interested; and, therefore, this ought not to be allowed.
    
      Yeates
    
    contended, that if a witness is incapaciated either by his own act, or by the act of God, proof of the hand writing is sufficient; as where a witness has been convicted of perjury.
   By the Court.

—There is a case in Strange where a party, who was a witness to a bond, afterwards became interested, and, although the proof of his hand writing was admitted, yet there must, likewise, have been proof that the other witness could not be found. The best evidence of which the case reasonably admits has not been offered; and, therefore, we cannot allow the deed to he read on this occasion.