Case Name: Ex parte GORMAN
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1835-03
Citations: 10 F. Cas. 831
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ex parte GORMAN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 10
Pages: 831–831

Head Matter:
Case No. 5,628.
Ex parte GORMAN.
[4 Cranch, C. C. 572.]
Circuit Court, District of Columbia.
March Term, 1835.
Witness — Attachment ano Penalty on Failure to Obey Summons — Justice of Peace.
If a witness summoned by a justice of the peace of Washington county, to attend before him and testify in a suit for a small debt, fail to attend accordingly, the justice may issue an attachment returnable to the circuit court, who will impose the penalty of two dollars and sixty-seven cents, as required by the 8th section of the Maryland act of 1791, c. 68. 'The court cannot impose a higher fine.
[John B.] Gorman was summoned by T. O. Coote, Esq., a justice of the peace, to attend before him as a witness for the corporation of Washington against Robert Crook; and haying failed to attend, the justice on the 11th of May, 1835, issued his attachment under the act of Maryland of 1791, c. 68, § 8, returnable to this court on the fourth Monday of May, instant, to which day this court stood adjourned. Mr. Gorman answered on oath, but did not purge himself of the contempt. The act authorizes the justices, at their discretion, to fine the offender any sum, not exceeding twenty shillings, current money, for every such offense.
The attachment was as follows: “District of Columbia, Washington County, ss. You are hereby commanded to attach John B. Gor-man, and have him before the circuit court of the District of Columbia, for Washington county, on the fourth Monday of May, instant, to answer unto the United States of America, for a contempt by him committed, in not attending as a witness for the mayor, board of aldermen, and board of common council of the city of Washington, against Robert Clarke, before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the said county, after being thereto legally summoned. Hereof fail not. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of May, 1835. Clement T. Coote. (Seal.)”

Opinion:
THE COURT
(nem. con.) imposed the fine of two dollars and sixty-seven cents, (being twenty shillings, Maryland- currency.) And CRANCH, Chief Judge, said that he was of opinion that, as the ease before the justice appeared by the attachment to be a case of small debt, recoverable in the manner provided for by the act of 1791, c. 68, the punishment of the witness could not be extended beyond that prescribed by that act.