Frisbie v. Young

18 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 474

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: July 15, 1877
• Status: Published

Opinion

Beady, J.:

Tbe defendant was served with a summons while under examination as a witness de bene esse. He came from another State here, and. after bis arrival was advised that bis testimony was desired. He consented to appear, and bis examination was arranged by stipulation. It is shown that, if be bad not consented, compulsory process would bare been issued. It further appears, however, that he was a resident of this State at the time of the examination, according to his own statement then made, and his absence was, therefore, connected with business. He states, indeed, in the affidavit on which this motion rests, that he was not engaged in business in the city of Chicago, Illinois. As a resident witness, he was exempt onT/y from, rn'rest while attending for examination, and not from the service of process. Non-resident witnesses were discharged absolutely. (Graham’s Pr. [2d ed.], 130, and cases cited.) The privilege does not extend to non-bailable process, or process on which no bail is demanded. The cases of Lamkin v. Starkey (14 N. Y. S. C. R., 479) and Brett v. Brown (13 Abb. [N. S.], 295) do not conflict with this view. They were cases of non-resident or foreign witnesses, to whom, as we have seen, a different rule applies. The Revised Statutes exonerated witnesses from arrest, and subjected the persons arresting them to action and a penalty. (2 R. S., old paging, 402; 3 R. S. [6th ed.], 665.) The defendant being a resident of this State, it follows that he could be served with a summons which did not interfere with .his liberty. It was a non-bailable process.

The order made at Special Term was correct, therefore, and must be affirmed, with ten dollars costs and the disbursements of this appeal.

Davis, P. L, and Daniels, L, concurred.

Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs, besides disbursements.