PART III - PRODUCTION AND EFFECT OF EVIDENCE CHAPTER 3 - EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES
Section 98. Evidence as to matters in writing.
Any witness may be asked whilst under examination whether any contract, grant or other disposition of property as to which he is giving evidence was not contained in a document, and if he says that it was, or if he is about to make any statement as to the contents of any document which in the opinion of the Court ought to be produced, the adverse party may object to the evidence being given until the document is produced or until facts have been proved which entitle the party who called the witness to give secondary evidence of it.
Explanation - A witness may give oral evidence of statements made by other persons about the contents or documents if the statements, are in themselves relevant facts.
ILLUSTRATION
The question is whether A assaulted B.
C deposes that he heard A say to D: "B wrote a letter accusing me of theft and I will be revenged on him.". The statement is relevant as showing A's motive for the assault and evidence may he given of it though no other evidence is given about the letter.