S. Dying declarations, made in cases of homicide where the death of the deceased is the subject of the charge and the circum stances of the death are the subject of the (lying declarations, arc admissible, 2 Barnew.
& C. 605 ; 1 Leach, Cr. Cas. 267, 378 ; 2 Mood. & R. 53 ; 2 Johns. N. Y. 31, 35 ; 15 id. 286 ; 1 Moigs, Tenn. 265 ; 4 Miss. 655 ; see 4 Carr. & P. 233, if made under a sense of impending death. 2 Leach, Cr. Cas. 563 ; 6 Carr. & P. 386, 631; 7 id. 187 ; 1 Mood. Cr. Cas. 97 ; 2 id. 135 ; 5 Cox, Cr. Cas. 318 ; 11 Ohio, 424 ; 2 Ark. 229 ; 3 Cush. Mass. 181; 9 Humphr. Tenn. 9, 24. And sec 3 Carr. & P. 269 ; 6 id. 386 • 2 Va. Cas. 78, 111 • 3 Leigh, Va. 786 ; 1 Hawks, Tenn. 442. The declaration may have been made by signs, 1 Greenleaf, Ev. 161 b, and in answer to questions. 7 Carr. & P. 238 ; 2 Leach, Cr. Cas. 563 ; 3 Leigh, Va. 758. The substance only need be given by the witness, 11 Ohio, 424 ; 8 Blackf. Ind. 101; but the declaration must have been complete, 3 Leigh, Va. 786, and the circumstances under which it was made must be shown to the court. 1 Stark. 521; 3 Carr. & P. 629 ; 6 id. 386; 7 id. 187 ; 1 Hawks, No. C. 444; 2 Ashm. Penn. 41, 69; 2 Gratt. Va. 594; 16 Miss. 401; 2 Hill, So.
C. 619.
9. Declarations, to be admissible as original evidence, must have been made at the time of doing the act to which they relate. 3 Conn. 250 ; 19 id. 250 ; 16 Miss. 722 ; 9 Paige, Ch. 'N. Y. 611 ; 3 Ga. 513 ; 23 id. 193 ; 8 Mete. Mass. 436 ; 13 id. 237, 544 ; 6 Me. 266 ; 34 id. 310; 8 N. H. 40 ; 36 id. 353 ; 14 Serg. & R. Penn. 275 ; 8 Watts, Penn. 479 ; 5 Term, 512 ; 2 Bingh. 99 ; 9 id. 349 ; 1 Barnew. & Ad. 135. And see 1 Mete. Mass. 242 ; 3 id. 199 ; 4 Fla. 104 ; 3 Humphr. Tenn. 315 ; 24 Vt. 363 ; 21 Conn. 101. For cases of entries in books, see 1 Llinn. Penn. 234; 8 Watts, Penn. 544; 4 Serg. R. Penn. 3, 5 ; 9 id. 285 ; 13 Mass. 427.
In order to their admission as secondary evidence, the declarant must be dead, 11 Price, Exch. 162 ;. 1 Carr. & K. 58 ; 12 Vt. 178 ; and the declaration must have been made before any controversy arose. 13 Ves. Ch. 514; 3 Campb. 444; 4 id. 401: 10 Barnew. & C. 657 ; 4 Maule & S. 486; 1 Pet. 328. It must also appear that the declarant was in a condition or situation to know the facts, or that it was his duty to know them.
2 Jac. & W. Ch.,46-1 ; 10 East, 109 ; 15 id. 32; 9 Barnew & C. 935 ; 10 id. 317 ; 4 Q. B.137; 2 Smith, Lead. Cas. Hare & W. ed. 193, n.
10. The declarations of an agent respect ing a subject-mattei, with regard to which he represents the principal, bind the prin cipal, Story, Ag. N 134-137 ; 1 Phillipps, Ev. 381; 2 Q. B. 212; 3 Harr. N. J. 299; 20 N. H. 165 ; 31 Ala. N. s. 33 ; 6 Gray, Mass. 450, if made during the continuance of the agency with regard to a transaction then pending, 8 Bingh. 451 ; 10 Ves. Ch. 123; 4 Taunt. 519 ; 5 Wheat. 336 ; 6 Watts, Penn. 487 ; 8 id. 39 ; 14 N. H. 101; 4 Cush. Mass. 93 ; 30 Vt. 29 ; 11 Rich. So. C. 367 ; 24 Ga. 211 ; 31 Ala. N. s. 33 ; 7 Gray, Mass. 92, 345; 4 E. D. Smith, N. Y. 165 ; see 3 Rob. La. 201 • 8 Mete. Mass. 44 ; 19 Ill. 456 ; and similar rules extend to partners' declarations. 1 Greenleaf, Ev. 112 ; 31 Ala. N. s. 26 ; 36 N. H. 167. Sec PARTNER.
11. When more than one person is con cerned in the commission of a crime, as in cases of riots, conspiracies, and the like, the declarations of either of the parties, made while acting in the common design, are evi dence against the whole, 3 Barnew. & AId. 566 ; 1 Stark. 81; 2 Pet. 358 ; 10 Pick. Mass. 497 ; 30 Vt. 100 ; 32 Miss. 405 ; 9 Cal. 593 ; but the declarations of one of the rioters or conspirators, made after the accomplishment of their object and when they no longer acted together, are evidence only against the party making them. 2 Starkie, Ev. 235 ; 2 Russell, Crimes, 572 ; Roscoe, Crim. Ev. 324 ; 1 Ill. 269 ; 1 Mood. & M. 501. And see 2 Carr. & P. 232 ; 7 Gray, Mass. 1, 46. See HEARSAY; BOUNDARY ; REPUTATION ; CONFESSION.
In Scotch Law. The prisoner's state ment before a magistrate.
12. When used on trial, it must be proved that the prisoner was in his senses at the time of making it, and made it of his own free will. 2 Hume, Sess. Sc. 328 ; Alison, Pract. 557. It must be signed by the wit nesses present when it was made, Alison, Pract. 557, and by the prisoner himself. Arkl. Just. Sc. 70. See Paterson, Comp. 952, 970.