Court Opinion

ID: 9566238
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 19:35:26.750929+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:33:39.695005
License: Public Domain

Cureton, Judge
(concurring):
I concur with the result reached by the majority. I find it necessary, however, to comment regarding Section I of the Opinion. While I agree the Thomas letter qualified as an ancient document I would hold the court did not err in considering its contents as evidence for the reason that the appellants did not preserve their hearsay objection to the admission of the document.
I would not find it necessary, however, to adopt the rule that ancient documents are admissible for their content as an exception to the hearsay rule. See Town of Ninety Six v. Southern Ry. Co., 267 F. (2d) 579) 4th Cir. 1959); J. Dreher, A Guide To Evidence Law In South Carolina 107 (J. Thames rev. 1979); 7 Wigmore, Evidence Section 2145(a) (Chadbourn rev. 1978). In so finding, I note the letter involved here, unlike the map in Atlantic Coast Line R.R. Co. v. Searson, 137 *450S.C. 468, 135 S.E. 567 (1926), does not qualify as a muniment of title which under our ancient documents rule is admissible for its content. Goings v. Mitchell, 110 S.C. 380, 96 S.E. 612 (1918).