28 Iowa 561 | Iowa | 1870
Since the witness whose statements were offered to be proved, was a party to the suit, there was surely no error in this. If the witness could not remember the precise language, but could remember the substance of it, he ought to be permitted to testify to that. In the nature of things, attested by the experience of nearly every one, the very language of a previous statement can scarcely ever be remembered with such certainty as to justify a positive verification of its identity; and especially so, if any considerable time has elapsed between the statement and its repetition in evidence. To reject the substance is, therefore, to reject all evidence of it. The protection from undue prejudice from such testimony, lies in the liberality indulged toward the opposite party in cross-examination of the witness thereon.
Affirmed.