Case ID: scl_4/html/0200-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Brevard, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT, CHARLESTON,
    APRIL, 1807.
    Paisley v. Snipes.
    The act of Assembly, made to dispense with the unnecessary attendance of witnesses, requires the signature of the maker of a note, or bill, to be proved; therefore if the maker cannot write, but makes his mark,, the signature of his mark must be proved, as any other signature.
    Assumpsit on a promissory note, to which the defendant had subscribed his mark as the maker of the note. At the trial in Georgetown district, before Bay, J., the note was produced in evidence, and it appearing that there was a name subscribed thereto, as a witaess, the plaintiff offered to prove the handwriting of the-said witness, which the judge allowed him to do, in proof of ther note, although it was admitted that the witness was resident within the State. The witness had been subpcened, but did not attend. To-this proof the defendant objected, but the plaintiff had a verdict.
    The motion in this court was for a new trial, which was submitted to the court, and argued by Simons, for defendant,, and by Croft, for plaintiff. Croft cited Doug. 93. 1 Bos. and PulL 360.
   Brevard, J.,

delivered the resolution of the whole court. The question made in this case was decided at Columbia, twelve months 'ago, by a majority of the judges, in the case of Gervais v. Baird. The question was held to depend on the construction of the act of assembly, made to dispense with the unnecessary attendance of witnesses* 1802 ; and the act was' construed to require proof of the signature of the party to be charged. If the maker of a note he a marksman, that circumstance will not avoid the necessity of proving his signature. In many instances, the mark of a man who cannot write, can be known and distinguished ; and, therefore, the case admits of the same proof that is necessary in cases where the maker can write. But if the mark cannot be proved in this way, it must be proved by the subscribing witness to the note, or by some other person who was present,, and saw the mark made.

JVbio. See the case of Myers v, Taylor, May, 1803, (1 vol. p. 245.) Proof of the handwriting of a subscribing witness to a bond, is sufficient, without proving the handwriting of the obligor, where the subscribing witness is absent.” Per Buller, 1 Bos. and P. 360. The word “ signature,” in the A. A. must mean the signature of the obligor, or maker, of a bond, or note, and not the signature of any witness.