99. Presumption as to due execution, etc., of document not produced. The Court shall presume
that every document, called for and not produced after notice to produce, was attested, stamped and
executed in the manner required by law.
100. Presumption as to documents thirty years old. Where any document, purporting or
proved to be thirty years old, is produced from any custody which the Court in the particular case
considers proper, the Court may presume that the signature and every other part of such document,
which purports to be in the handwriting of any particular person, is in that person's handwriting, and
in the case of a document executed or attested, that it was duly executed and attested by the persons
by whom it purports to be executed and attested.
Explanation.__ For the purposes of this Article and Article 92, documents are said to be in proper
custody if they are in the place in which, and under the care of the person with whom, they would
naturally be; but no custody is improper if it is proved to have had a legitimate origin, or if the
circumstances of the particular case are such as to render such an origin probable.
Illustrations
(a) A has been in possession of landed property for a long time. He produces from his custody
deeds relating to the land, showing his titles to it. The custody is proper.
(b) A produces deeds relating to landed property of which he is the mortgagee. The mortgagor
is in possession. The custody is proper.
(c) A, a connection of B, produces deeds relating to lands in B’s possession which were
deposited with him by B for safe custody. The custody is proper.
101. Certified copies of documents thirty years old. The provisions of Article 100 shall apply to
such copy of a document referred to in that Article as is certified in the manner provided in Article 87
and is not less than thirty years old; and such certified copy may be produced in proof of the contents
of the document or part of the document of which purports to be a copy.
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CHAPTER VI
OF THE EXCLUSION OF ORAL BY DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
102. Evidence of terms of contracts, grants and other disposition of property reduced to
form of document. When the terms of a contract, or of a grant, or of any other disposition of
property, have been reduced to the form of a document, and in all cases in which any matter is
required by law to be reduced to the form of a document, no evidence shall be given in proof of the
terms of such contract, grant or other disposition of property, or of such matter, except the document
itself, or secondary evidence of its contents in cases in which secondary evidence is admissible under
the provisions hereinbefore contained.
Exception 1.__ When a public officer is required by law to be appointed in writing, and when it is
shown that any particular person has acted as such officer, the writing by which he is appointed need
not be proved.
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