FIGUR ES. Numerals. They are either Roman, made with letters of the alphabet : for example, moecr.xxvi; or they are Ara bic, as follows: 1776.
Roman figures may be used in contracts and law proceedings, and they will be held valid; but Arabic figures, probably owing to the ease with which they may be coun terfeited or altered, have been holden not to be sufficient to express the sum due on a contract ; but it seems that if the amount payable and due on a promissory note be expressed in figures or ciphers, it will be valid. Story, Bills § 42, note; Story. Pr. Notes § 21.
Figures to express numbers are not al lowable in indictments; but all numbers must be expressed in words at length, ex cept in setting forth a copy of a written instrument. And complaints are governed by the same rule in cases over which magis trates have final jurisdiction. But the de cisions on this point are not uniform. And in most of them the proper distinction be tween the use of figures in the caption and in the body of an indictment has not been observed. In America, perhaps the weight
of authority is contrary to the law as above stated. But, at all events, a contrary prac tice is unclerical, uncertain, and liable to alteration ; and the courts which have sus tained such practice have uniformly caution against it. See 13 Viner, Abr. 210; 1 Chitty 319; State v. Tuller, 34 Conn. 280; State v. Reed, 35 Me. 489, 58 Am. Dec. 727.
Bills of exchange, promissory notes, checks, and agreements of every descrip tion are usually dated with Arabic figures : it is, however, better to date deeds and other formal instruments by writing the words at length. See 5 Toullier, n. 336; Jackson v. Schoonmaker, 2 Johns. (N. Y.) 233; Serpentine v. State, 1 How. (Miss.) 256; Finch v. State, 6 Blackf. (Ind.) 533; President, etc., of Middlebury College v. Cheney, 1 Vt. 336.