Actually I think Shook's hearsay statement could have been admitted (at least in a federal court) as an admission by a party or opponent.
Yes, but she was disbelieved by the Baron Lord High Executioner and Supreme Judge Greer. You see, it is really neat when you get to decide what evidence you want to admit into a civil trial. You get to direct the outcome. How cool is that! All you have to do is come up with a thinly veiled pretext for finding the person submitting the evidence 'not credible'.