# Second Witness A **second witness** independently observes or checks a disputed account. Two people repeating one master's interpretation are not two independent witnesses. The [Archive](page:57727) records what each observer could actually perceive and keeps discrepancies rather than forcing agreement. ## Independence of Observation The second witness should be able to say what was seen or heard before learning the first account. The Archive may preserve both accounts even if they disagree. Independence does not mean equal expertise, and agreement does not prove the House's response was genuine. ## An Archivists' Saying A familiar saying holds that two witnesses who finish each other's sentences may count as one. It is advice about influence, not a rule for rejecting testimony. --- ## Links here - [Archive](page:57727) - [Schools and Succession](page:8263) --- [All pages](https://wikilayer.org/smee-again/the-house-of-the-inner-wind/en/index.md)