Case Name: Harper & Lyles v. Reily
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1802-11
Citations: 1 Cranch 100
Docket Number: 
Parties: Harper & Lyles v. Reily.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 1
Pages: 100–100

Head Matter:
Harper & Lyles v. Reily.
The declarations of a witness not under oath, may be given in evidence to discredit his testimony.
Trover for two hogsheads of sugar. The defendant moved for the continuance of the cause to the next term on account of the absence of a witness. The affidavit stated that the witness would prove a conversation between himself and Gilpin, a witness who it was supposed would be produced on the part of the plaintiff.

Opinion:
The Court
refused a continuance, because the testimony of the defendant's witness would not be competent, on the principle that the declarations of a witness not under oath, shall not be adduced against the witness' declarations on oath. Qacere. See Peake, L. E. 84, 85, and 3 Burr. 1244.
On motion, the Court granted a new trial.