Case Name: The Franklin Bank v. Hipkins & Rochford
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1822-05
Citations: 2 Cranch 315
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Franklin Bank v. Hipkins & Rochford.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 315–315

Head Matter:
The Franklin Bank v. Hipkins & Rochford.
In a joint action of debt upon a promissory note, if one of tbe defendants suffer judgment to go against him by default and a writ of inquiry be executed, be is not a competent witness, upon the issue joined by the other defendant.
Debt against Lewis,Hipkins and Bartholomy Rochford upon their joint promissory note.
Judgment was rendered against Hipkins by default, and a writ of inquiry executed.
On the trial of the issue against Eochford, his counsel, Mr. Taylor offered to examine Hipkins as a witness for Eochford ; and cited Chapman v. Graves, 2 Camp. 333 ; Ward v. Hayden et al., 2 Esp. Eep. 552.

Opinion:
The Court
(nem. con.) rejected the witness; because the action being joint, the judgment must be joint; and if, upon the trial of the issue against Eochford the verdict should be in his favor, there can be no judgment against Hipkins.