Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

4 Hill & Den. 595

Ehle v. Bingham

Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors · decided 1843-04-15

Witnesses’ fees. On taxation of costs for the New-York 'circuit, the plaintiff made affidavit that the following persons were subpoenaed as witnesses, “ and probably travelled the distance, and actually attended as witnesses the number of days as hereinafter stated, viz.: S. Wolcott &c. [naming nine individuals ;] that two of said witnesses reside two hundred and thirty miles from court, and attended court twenty days each ; that one of said witnesses resides two hundred and…

Relies on Booth v. Smith

Decided 1843-04-15

¶1By the Court,

Bronson, J.

¶2Charges for witnesses cannot be taxed, without an affidavit stating the distance they respectively travelled, and the days they actually attended. (2 R. S. 653, § 7.) For the purpose of satisfying this requirement, and detecting any false swearing, the affidavit should state the name and place of residence of each witness, the distance he had to travel to reach court, and the number of days that he actually attended as a witness in the particular cause. No other rule will effectually guard against over charges. This affidavit was insufficient, and the charges for the travel and attendance of the two witnesses, amounting to $36,80, were improperly allowed.

¶3Only one day’s attendance was allowed for each of the city witnesses. That was right, both on the ground that the affidavit was defective, and because the cause was only on the day calendar for a single day.

¶4The fees paid to witnesses who did not attend were properly disallowed. (Booth v. Smith, 5 Wend. 107 ; Anon. 3 Hill, 457.) The plaintiff can recover back the moneyfrom the witnesses, and a penalty besides, unless there was some good excuse for not attending.

¶5The plaintiff’s motion for a re-taxation must be denied, and that of the defendant granted.

¶6Ordered accordingly.

/4/hillden/595 · .json · Public domain