American National Bank v. Brickhouse

Exceptions eight and twelve present this question: Can a witness testify as to the contents of a letter received by him without proof of the genuineness of the original letter and without evidence as to the loss thereof ?

It is a general rule of evidence that the best evidence which the nature of the case admits of must be produced. When the nonproduction of the best evidence is properly accounted for, then the next best evidence in the party’s power is required. But before secondary evidence of the contents of a letter can be given in evidence, the letter itself must be properly identified by…