Incompetency
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
evidence, is the want of legal ability in a witness to be heard as such on the trial of a cause. The objections to the competency (q. v-) of a witness are fourfold. The first ground is the want of understanding; a second is defect of religious principles; a third arises from the conviction of certain crimes or infamy of character; the fourth is on account of interest, (q. v.) 1 Phil. Ev. 15.