Case Name: Lewis Lawrence v. Samuel D. Dakin
Court: Saratoga Chancery Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1841-04-06
Citations: 1 Sarat. Ch. Sent. 29
Docket Number: 
Parties: Lewis Lawrence v. Samuel D. Dakin.
Judges: 
Reporter: Saratoga Chancery Sentinel
Volume: 1
Pages: 1059–1059

Head Matter:
Lewis Lawrence v. Samuel D. Dakin.
Witness—Not compelled to attend upon master at greater distance than Ifi miles from their place of residence,except under special circumstances
Ward Hunt for complainant.
S. D. Dakin in person.

Opinion:
In this case the court ^decided that it would not encourage the practice of compelling witnesses to attend beforeamasteratagreatdis-tance from their place of residence, when they might as well have been examined upou a commission issued upon the certificate of the master. That in accordance with the spirit of the 76th Rule, by which it is provided that no witness can be compelled to appear before an examiner or commissioner more than forty miles from his residence, the court ought not to compel the attendance of witnesses before a master at a greater distance, unless there is something in the nature of the examination which requires the personal attendance of the witness before the master. That in ordinary cases, where the witnesses reside at a greater distance from the master's office, the proper course is to obtain a commission for their examination, or to get an order for their examination before a master or examiner in the neighborhood of their residence. Order that defendant appear before a master and submit to an examination, discharged, without costs; but complainant allowed to take out a new summons for that purpose, on filing an affidavit of its necessity. Order for Gould, the witness, to show cause, dismissed.