Case ID: wright_1/html/0513-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "BY THE COURT.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

*THE STATE v. HASLEPS.
    Contempt — witness making efforts to get to court not in contempt — process in, not to redress the injury to the party, but to punish.
    Where a witness intends to obey the process, and has made efforts to attend, he will not be fined if he does not arrive until half an hour after the time specified in the subpoena.
    Process of contempt is to punish the disobedient witness, not redress the party subpoenaing him; for his injury he has his action.
    Attachment for contempt of court for non attendance as a witness.
    On interrogatories, the defendant showed that he had been some time sick and was unable to walk. He intended to obey the subpoena, and to have been at court in season. He started as early as he could get his horse caught this morning, and arrived half an hour after the time specified in the subpoena.
   BY THE COURT.

There seems no intention to contemn the process of the court by this witness; on the contrary, he made an effort to obey, to the extent of his ability. The attachment is to punish for disobeying the process of the court wilfully, not to redress the party injured by the absence of the witness; for that injury he has his action. The defendant is discharged, at the costs of the applicant for the writ.