A doubt occasionally arises as to how blind men can execute wills, and this doubt has given origin to laws which contain provisions which conflict with one another, as well as with the custom at present observed; and I have considered it neither inopportune nor inconsistent with My purpose to explain and settle this question. There is a law which prohibits a blind man from making a will in secret, and provides that such a will shall not be valid, any more than where witnesses allege that they heard the testator mention orally the dispositions which it contains, when the instrument alone does not, of itself, confirm their testimony. On the other hand, another law permits women and illiterate persons to make secret wills, and does not require of the latter any other formalities than that where the testator is unable to write, his signature must be proved, and if he cannot write at all, someone else can sign his name for him. These two laws are evidently conflicting, for if women and illiterate persons who hardly know what they want can make secret wills, why should not a blind man be permitted to do so? And, indeed, custom as well as law is contradictory in this instance, for custom has established that the wills of women, persons ignorant of letters, and the blind, when executed in secret, are destitute of all validity. Since this is the case, We order that the secret wills of blind men and all other persons shall be absolutely valid; and We add to this provision that, before the witnesses make oath, those who have drawn up the will shall attach their signatures thereto, and shall state that they have written it at the dictation of the testator; and if it should subsequently be ascertained that they have committed forgery, if they are wealthy, they shall be deprived of their property; and if they are poor, they shall be severely scourged, and sent into exile as a penalty for their crime. We also add that if, in order to confirm a will, it becomes necessary to have anyone sworn, as frequently happens, whoever wrote it must agree with those who make oath as to the genuineness and truth of the instrument.