Case Name: Knap v. Sacket
Court: Connecticut Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Decision Date: 1793-01
Citations: 1 Root 501
Docket Number: 
Parties: Knap v. Sacket.
Judges: 
Reporter: Connecticut Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 501–502

Head Matter:
Knap v. Sacket.
A person wlio lias executed a bill of sale in tlie name of another, shall not he admitted to testify he had no right to do it.
A writing witnessed by subscribing witnesses must be proved by them if to be had.
Action of trover for a vessel. Issue to the jury. The dispute was respecting the property.

Opinion:
Underhill of New! York, owned the vessel; the plaintiff claimed her by virtue of a bill of sale from Close, captain of the vessel and agent for said Underhill; the defendant set up title to her in virtue of a purchase from said Under-hill, subsequent to the bill of sale from Close — whose power of agency and right to sell was drawn in question. And the defendant moved that Close might be sworn as a witness; but by the court was not admitted, for after he has executed a bill of sale in the name of Underhill, it shall not lie in his power to swear that he had no right to do it.
The defendant offered a hill of sale of said vessel, witnessed by two subscribing witnesses — which was denied to be genuine. The defendant offered to prove the execution by comparison of the handwriting — hut by the court, it will not do to admit the lowest hind of evidence to authenticate a deed, when it is apparent that the party has better evidence in his power, which might have been produced. The hill of sale was rejected.