A person against whom a written obligation, which appears signed by him, is set up in court is obliged to declare whether the signature is his or not.
The heirs or the legal representatives of the person obligated may limit themselves to state if they know whether the signature to the obligation is or is not that of their principal.
A refusal, without sufficient cause, to make the statement mentioned in the preceding paragraphs may be construed by the courts as an admission of the authenticity of the instrument.
History —Civil Code, 1930, § 1180.