If the original is destroyed. you may prove by parol its contents. but you must first show that it once existed and has been destroyed. Gentlemen. however. tell us that the certificate given is an original record of itself. and for that. reason you may prove its contents by parol when once destroyed. They cite no law and give no reason to show that it is original evidence. but say because of universal custom these naturalization papers issue in duplicates. and because of that custom each is original. It is admitted. however. that a duplicate exists. that the custom does not extend further than to authorize their issuance in duplicate. Then. if one is lost. the best evidence thereof would be the other. but if the other never existed. then there were no duplicates.
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naturalization