When a grantor or lessor dies or leaves the state without acknowledging his deed, the execution thereof may be proved by the testimony of a subscribing witness thereto before a justice of the supreme court, a superior judge or a judge of the superior court. If all the subscribing witnesses to such deed are dead or out of the state, the same may be proved before the supreme or superior court by proving the handwriting of the grantor or lessor and of a subscribing witness or adducing other evidence to the satisfaction of such court. Such evidence entered on such deed or annexed thereto shall be equivalent to the grantor's or lessor's acknowledgment thereof. (Amended 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974.)