Case Name: Augusta I. Bain vs. Elizabeth Walsh, Administratrix
Court: Maine Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Maine
Decision Date: 1892-11-07
Citations: 85 Me. 108
Docket Number: 
Parties: Augusta I. Bain vs. Elizabeth Walsh, Administratrix.
Judges: Peters, C. J., Walton, Libbey, Foster and Haskell, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: Maine Reports
Volume: 85
Pages: 108–109

Head Matter:
Augusta I. Bain vs. Elizabeth Walsh, Administratrix.
Knox.
Opinion November 7, 1892.
Mviüence. Lost Documents. Practice.
The evidence of the loss of a document adduced to lay the foundation for introduction of secondary evidence of its contents, is addressed solely to the discretion of the presiding justice; and his decision upon its sufficiency, in the absence of any apparent abuse of his authority, is not revisable.
On exceptions.
The case appears in the opinion.
O. E. and A. 8. Littlefield, for plaintiff.
Kalloch and Meservey, for defendant.

Opinion:
Virgin, J.
Assumpsit on a promissory note alleged to have been given on October 13,1883, to the plaintiff by the defendant's intestate who deceased April 9, 1890.
The non-production of the note at the trial was attempted to be accounted for by the contention that it had been lost.
The evidence of the loss adduced to lay the foundation for introduction of secondary evidence of its contents, is addressed solely to the discretion of the presiding justice ; and his decision upon its sufficiency, in the absence of any apparent abuse of his authority, is not reviewable. Camden v. Belgrade, 78 Maine, 204, 209.
The only evidence of its loss came from the plaintiff herself, who simply testified that she had not been able to find the note since the date of the maker's decease in April, 1890; nor had she assigned or transferred it since that date. She omitted to testify by affidavit whether or not it was lost prior to that date.
Bxceptions overruled. JSTonmit confirmed.
Peters, C. J., Walton, Libbey, Foster and Haskell, JJ., concurred.