Stubbs v. Abel

— Rood, in his work on Wills, at Section 416, makes the following observation:

“ ‘Wills and the construction of them do more to perplex a man than any other learning,’ said Lord Coke, adding that these surpass the science of law, and history confirms his remark. On no other branch of the law are decided cases of so little value as precedents. Half a century ago Judge Story said: ‘The cases almost overwhelm us at every step of our progress (How much more so now!); and any attempt even to classify them, much less to harmonize them, is full of the most perilous labor.’ ”

The above excerpt was…