New York Supreme Court, 1842

Brewster v. Doane

Brewster v. Doane
New York Supreme Court · Decided May 15, 1842 · Bronson
2 Hill & Den. 537

Counsel

A. Gardiner, for the defendants., W. S. Bishop Sp O. Hastings, for the plaintiff.

Brewster v. Doane

Opinion of the Court

By the Court,

Bronson, J.

The rule is, that entries and memoranda made in the usual course of business, by nota*538ries, clerks and other persons, may be received in • evidence after the death of the person who made them. (Halliday v. Martinet, 20 John. 168; Butler v. Wright, 2 Wend. 369; Hart v. Wilson, id. 513; Nichols v. Goldsmith, 7 id. 160; Cowen & Hill’s Notes to Phil. Ev. 674—676.) But if the person who made the enti-y be still living, though out of the state, he must be called, or examined on commission—otherwise his entry or memorandum cannot be received. (Wilbur v. Selden, 6 Cowen, 162; Merrill v. Ithaca & Owego R, R. Co., 16 Wend. 595.) Entries and memoranda made by deceased persons in the usual course, of business, though not the most satisfactory kind of evidence, are received from the necessity of the case; and the evidence is not admissible where that necessity does not exist.

Motion granted.(a)

See Bank af Monroe v. Culver and others, ante, p. 531. -

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