ON THE PRINCIPLES OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE Ellustrated by Numerous Cases. BY THE LATE WILLIAM WILLS, Esq. EDITED BY HIS SON, ALFRED WILLS, Esq., BARRISTER-AT-LAW. Nulla denique est causa, in qua id, quod in judicium venit, ex reorum personis, FOURTH EDITION. LONDON: BUTTERWORTHS, 7, FLEET STREET, Law Publishers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. HODGES, SMITH, AND CO., GRAFTON STREET, DUBLIN. 1862. PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION. BY THE EDITOR. THE earlier sheets of this volume were in the press more than two years ago, and the remainder was very nearly ready for publication when the Author was seized with an illness, which proved speedily fatal. The subsequent delay has arisen from unavoidable circumstances, with which it is unnecessary to trouble the reader. The work, however, was so far advanced, that I have had little to do beyond correcting the press and occasionally verifying a quotation or a reference; and I append my name, only because I think my father would have wished that some one should appear to be responsible for even these mechanical operations. I had intended to add to the "Illustrations of the force of circumstantial evidence" an instance of conflict between direct and circumstantial evidence more remarkable than any of those cited in this volume, presented by a case of disputed codicils to a will, twice tried at Derby; but as I have lately learned that it is |