Illiterate

Unacquainted with letters. When an ignorant man, unable to read, signs a deed or agreement, or makes his mark instead of a signature, and he alleges and can prove that it was falsely read to him, he is not bound by it, in consequence of the fraud. And the same effect would result if the deed or agreement were falsely read to d blind man who could have read it before he lost his sight, or to a foreigner who did not understand the language. For a plea of “laymen and unlettered,’’ see Bauer V. Roth, 4 Rawle (Pa.) 86, 94, 95. To induce an illiterate man, by false representations and false reading, to sign a note for a greater amount than that agreed on, is indictable as a cheat; Hill v. State, 1 Yerg. (Tenn.) 76, 24 Am. Dec. 441.

See, generally, 2 Nel. Abr. 946; 2 Co. 3; 11 id. 28; F. Moore 148; 2 Blsh. Or. L. S 156.

42f { 17> SO as to give the presiding judge dii^retionary power to admit in evidence upon a criminal trial the deposition of a witness, duly taken, who, owing to pregnancy is proved to be unable to travel; 3 Q. B. D. 426.