Case Name: HENRY v. RICKETTS et al.
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1809-11
Citations: 11 F. Cas. 1189
Docket Number: 
Parties: HENRY v. RICKETTS et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 11
Pages: 1189–1189

Head Matter:
Case Bo. 6,386.
HENRY v. RICKETTS et al.
[1 Cranch, C. C. 580.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
Nov. Term, 1809.
Witness — Attendance — Subpoena — More than One Hundred Miles.*
The court will not, in a civil suit, attach a witness who resides more than one hundred miles from the place of trial, nor issue a subpoena commanding him to go and testify before a magistrate.
[Action at law .by Henry’s executors against Ricketts, Newton & Co.]
R. J. Taylor, for defendants,
moved for a rule on James Taylor to show cause why an attachment should not issue against him for a contempt in not obeying a summons! to appear and testify as a witness, and to bring with him certain papers. The witness resided in Norfolk, Virginia, more than one hundred miles from the place of trial.
[Reported by Hon. 'William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

Opinion:
THE COURT told Mr. Taylor they would hear him further in support of the motion. THE COURT, on hearing, refused to lay.a rule, being of opinion that a witness, residing more than one hundred miles from the place of trial, could not be compelled to attend; and refused to issue a subpoena commanding the witness to appear before the mayor of Norfolk to testify. See Acts Cong. Sept. 24, 1789, § 30 (1 Stat. 88), and March 2, 1793, § 6 (1 Stat. 333).