Case Name: Jesse Garland & al. v. Executors of John Crow
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1830-12
Citations: 2 Bail. 24
Docket Number: 
Parties: Jesse Garland & al. v. Executors of John Crow.
Judges: Johnson J. and Evans J. sitting for Harper J. who was absent from indisposition, concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 24–24

Head Matter:
Jesse Garland & al. v. Executors of John Crow.
In theact of!824, requiring wills tobe attested by three ormore “ credible” witnesses, the word credible is synonimous with competent; but the competency of a witness is not affected by his taking an interest under the will, if he have an equal or greater interest against it.
In contemplation of law an estate for life is equal to seven years purchase of the fee. To estimate the present value of an estate for life, interest must be computed on the value of the whole property for seven years; and perhaps, interest on the several sums of the annual interest, from the present time to the periods at which they would respectively fall due, ought to be abated. According to this rule, the legal rate of interest being seven per cent, the present value of an estate for life is equivalent to a fraction more than thirty-five parts in a hundred of the value of the absolute estate: Where, therefore, the witnesses to a will would under it lake the remainder after an estate for life, but against the will, would be entitled to two thirds of the estate in possession. Held, that the preponderance of interest was against the will, and that the witnesses were competent to prove it.

Opinion:
Per O'Neall J.
affirming the judgment of Mr. Justice Richardson, on an appeal from the Ordinary of Darlington.
Johnson J. and Evans J. sitting for Harper J. who was absent from indisposition, concurred.