PREFACE. By the case method of instruction the student acquires a knowledge not only of the rules and principles of the law, but also of their application to particular facts; and the latter is quite as important as the former. The chief criticism of this method of instruction is that too much ground has to be covered for the amount of knowledge acquired. This criticism applies with greater force to long cases. In the present volume the cases are short and confined to the points of Evidence involved. All matter contained in the reported cases not pertaining to Evidence has been eliminated. Nearly all of the cases in this volume are American cases; and most of them have been recently decided. These features, it is believed, will be appreciated both by teachers and students. Many of the cases contained herein contain brief discussions of English cases which enable the student to acquire a knowledge of the origin and historical development of the various rules and principles of Evidence and their exceptions. Some topics in the law of Evidence require more extended discussion than others. Thus, the Rule against Hearsay and its exceptions, the Best Evidence Rule and the Parol Evidence Rule require extended discussion. Owing to this fact many cases herein pertain to these topics. To the trial lawyer Evidence is the most important subject in the law curriculum. It is the one subject that he must have at the tip of his tongue. It comprises many rules and exceptions and should be taught in law schools for at least five hours a week for one semester. T. W. HUGHES. |