Case Name: Eleanor Higginson's Case
Court: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1802-03
Citations: 1 Cranch 73
Docket Number: 
Parties: Eleanor Higginson’s Case.
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: 73–73

Head Matter:
Eleanor Higginson’s Case.
A witness, who for want of surety to appear and testify, has been imprisoned, is entitled to the daily compensation for the time of imprisonment.
Eleanor Higginson had been ordered by a justice of the peace to recognize with surety in a small sum, to appear and testify as a witness against Daniel Hennissee, on a charge of felony : but being a stranger and unable to get surety, she had been committed to prison and detained until the trial.
Mr. Mason, Attorney for the United Stales,
moved that she should be allowed payment for her attendance during the whole time she was so detained. The act of 1753, c. 13, only provides for the payment of the prison fees, and makes no allowance for the time of the witness.

Opinion:
The Court
allowed the witness to prove her attendance, and ordered her to be paid for the whole time she was detained, it being her misfortune and not her fault that she could not obtain security for her appearance.,\