Case Name: Crites versus Lanier
Court: North Carolina Superior Court
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1799-03
Citations: 1 Tay. 16
Docket Number: 
Parties: Crites versus Lanier.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 16–17

Head Matter:
Crites versus Lanier.
If the party and his witness are absent, the Court will require that the absence of the party be accounted for, before they continue the cause.
A CONTINUANCE of the cause was moved for on behalf of the plaintiff, who was absent; but from what cause did not appear; his witness had been summoned, as appeared by the return of the subpoena, but was also absent.

Opinion:
The Court
were of opinion that it was first necessary to account, in some satisfactory way, for the absence of the party himself; and then proof might be received as to the materiality of the witness, as far as it could be made by a third person. That it would be extremely mischievous to continue causes, upon the naked ground of the party and his witness being absent; for he might absent himself and keep back his witness, for the very purpose of delaying the trial; and thereby harass his adversary at pleasure.
Alexander for the Plaintiff.
Henderson for the Defendant.