Case: Pennington versus Scott
Abbreviation: Pennington v. Scott
Decision Date: 1786
Docket Number: 
Citation: 2 Dall. 94
Volume: 2
Reporter: United States Reports
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Parties: Pennington versus Scott.
Judges: 
Pages: 94–95

Head Matter:
Pennington versus Scott.
THISS cause being marked for trial, the defendant moved to postpone it, upon an affidavit, stating, " that he took out a subpoena three weeks ago, as as the time for holding the Court was known, and immediately employed one Rabb to serve it on witness, who lived at a distance; that he had, likewise lent, by the messenger, a letter to his Brother, requesting him to fee that the subpoena was served, and the witness expedited, in case of any accident to Rabb; that the witness was material without whole testimony, the defendant could not safely go to trial; that Rabb had not returned, nor had the defendant heard any thing of him since his departure; and that he thinks it probable that the attendance of the witness might be procured at the next Court."
Yates
insisted, that the defendant must produce a subpoena, and prove the service of it, in order to bring his case within the general rule.
Rul d at Lancaster Nisi Priu

Opinion:
But,
by the Court:
—It appears that as soon as the defendant had notice of the time of trial, he took, out a subpoena for a witness at a great distance in Washington County; but that neither the witness, nor the person employed to serve the subpoena, attends. This would not, in strictness, be a sufficient ground for putting off the cause: But it must be remembered, that the defendant, once before, at a considerable expence, brought the same witness to Court ; and when the cause was continued, without any fault imputable to him, he took the witness's deposition. Having thus, on a former, as well as on the present, occasion, pursued every preparatory step, which the law requires, to procure the attendance of the witness, we think it would be unreasonable to take advantage of any accident, that may have happened to, the messenger.