Mechanisms for evaluating an evidential statement in a corpus of evidence are provided. A first evidential statement for which corroboration is sought is received and a corpus of evidence data is processed to determine a measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data. An indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is generated based on the measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by the other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data. A representation of the indication of the trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is output in association with the first evidential statement.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method, in a data processing system comprising a processor and a memory, for evaluating an evidential statement in a corpus of evidence, the method comprising: receiving, by the data processing system, a first evidential statement for which corroboration is sought; processing, by the data processing system, a corpus of evidence data to determine a measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; generating, by the data processing system, an indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement based on the measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by the other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; and outputting, by the data processing system, a representation of the indication of the trustworthiness of the first evidential statement in association with the first evidential statement. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measure of corroboration quantifies an evaluation of an amount of evidence, by one or more sources other than a source of the first evidential statement, in the other evidence data, that describes a same or similar fact or conclusion as presented in the first evidential statement. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the corpus of evidence data comprises: analyzing the first evidential statement to identify one or more first characteristics of the first evidential statement; selecting a second evidential statement from the corpus of evidence data; analyzing the second evidential statement to identify one or more second characteristics of the second evidential statement; comparing the one or more first characteristics with the one or more second characteristics to determine a degree of matching of the one or more first characteristics with the one or more second characteristics; and generating a corroboration value based on the degree of matching. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more first characteristics comprises at least one of a sentence structure of the first evidential statement, a lexical answer type of the first evidential statement, a focus of the first evidential statement, a conclusion of the first evidential statement, or a time proximity of the first evidential statement. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the corroboration value further comprises: determining if the corroboration value associated with the comparison of the first evidential statement and the second evidential statement is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold corroboration value; and in response to the corroboration value equaling or exceeding the predetermined threshold corroboration value, performing further analysis of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to generate a modified corroboration value. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein performing further analysis of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to generate the modified corroboration value comprises at least one of: grading a first source of the first evidential statement and grading a second source of the second evidential statement; determining a relevance of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to a hypothetical ontological link of an ontology for which the first evidential statement is used as supporting evidence; evaluating a source type of the first source and a source type of the second source; or evaluating a time proximity of the first evidential statement with the second evidential statement. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement further comprises evaluating a first source of the first evidential statement and a second source of the second evidential statement based on at least one of an occupation of a first person that is the first source and an occupation of a second person that is the second source, or a reputation of the first person and reputation of the second person. 8. The method of claim 3, wherein generating the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement further comprises evaluating a relevance of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to a hypothetical ontological link of an ontology for which the first evidential statement is used as supporting evidence, and wherein the relevance is evaluated according to direct relationships, ownership characteristics, and containment characteristics within the first evidential statement and second evidential statement. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the corpus of evidence data comprises: comparing the degree of matching to a first threshold to determine if the degree of matching is sufficient to indicate corroboration of the first evidential statement by the second evidential statement; and comparing the degree of matching to a second threshold to determine if the degree of matching indicates a copying of at least a portion of the first evidential statement by the second evidential statement or a portion of the second evidential statement by the first evidential statement. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein, in response to the degree of matching being equal to or greater than the second threshold, the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is reduced. 11. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having a computer readable program stored therein, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a data processing system, causes the data processing system to: receive a first evidential statement for which corroboration is sought; process a corpus of evidence data to determine a measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; generate an indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement based on the measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by the other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; and output a representation of the indication of the trustworthiness of the first evidential statement in association with the first evidential statement. 12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the measure of corroboration quantifies an evaluation of an amount of evidence, by one or more sources other than a source of the first evidential statement, in the other evidence data, that describes a same or similar fact or conclusion as presented in the first evidential statement. 13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to process the corpus of evidence data at least by: analyzing the first evidential statement to identify one or more first characteristics of the first evidential statement; selecting a second evidential statement from the corpus of evidence data; analyzing the second evidential statement to identify one or more second characteristics of the second evidential statement; comparing the one or more first characteristics with the one or more second characteristics to determine a degree of matching of the one or more first characteristics with the one or more second characteristics; and generating a corroboration value based on the degree of matching. 14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the one or more first characteristics comprises at least one of a sentence structure of the first evidential statement, a lexical answer type of the first evidential statement, a focus of the first evidential statement, a conclusion of the first evidential statement, or a time proximity of the first evidential statement. 15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to generate the corroboration value at least by: determining if the corroboration value associated with the comparison of the first evidential statement and the second evidential statement is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold corroboration value; and in response to the corroboration value equaling or exceeding the predetermined threshold corroboration value, performing further analysis of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to generate a modified corroboration value. 16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to perform further analysis of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to generate the modified corroboration value at least by at least one of: grading a first source of the first evidential statement and grading a second source of the second evidential statement; determining a relevance of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to a hypothetical ontological link of an ontology for which the first evidential statement is used as supporting evidence; evaluating a source type of the first source and a source type of the second source; or evaluating a time proximity of the first evidential statement with the second evidential statement. 17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to generate the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement at least by evaluating a first source of the first evidential statement and a second source of the second evidential statement based on at least one of an occupation of a first person that is the first source and an occupation of a second person that is the second source, or a reputation of the first person and reputation of the second person. 18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to generate the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement at least by evaluating a relevance of the first evidential statement and second evidential statement to a hypothetical ontological link of an ontology for which the first evidential statement is used as supporting evidence, and wherein the relevance is evaluated according to direct relationships, ownership characteristics, and containment characteristics within the first evidential statement and second evidential statement. 19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer readable program further causes the processor to process the corpus of evidence data at least by: comparing the degree of matching to a first threshold to determine if the degree of matching is sufficient to indicate corroboration of the first evidential statement by the second evidential statement; and comparing the degree of matching to a second threshold to determine if the degree of matching indicates a copying of at least a portion of the first evidential statement by the second evidential statement or a portion of the second evidential statement by the first evidential statement, wherein, in response to the degree of matching being equal to or greater than the second threshold, the indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement is reduced. 20. An apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a first evidential statement for which corroboration is sought; process a corpus of evidence data to determine a measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; generate an indication of trustworthiness of the first evidential statement based on the measure of corroboration of the first evidential statement by the other evidence data in the corpus of evidence data; and output a representation of the indication of the trustworthiness of the first evidential statement in association with the first evidential statement.