Tolly v. Price ( 1856 )

Judge Simpson

delivered the opinion of the court:

The only question which we shall notice in this case is that which was made in the circuit court, as to the admissibility, as evidence, of the depositions of two witnesses who resided in an adjoining county, but more than thirty miles distant from the place of trial, without any proof of their inability to be present.

The Revised Statutes (page 703) contain a provision that a witness shall not be compelled to attend at a place distant more than thirty miles from his residence, but his deposition may, for that cause, be taken in any civil suit.

The 614th section of the Code of Practice in Civil Cases provides, that depositions may be used on the trial of all issues in any action where the witness does not reside in the county where the action is pending, or in an adjoining county, or is absent from the state.

These are conflicting provisions, and the question to be decided is, which of them is to prevail and regulate the proceedings in the present action.

This question is conclusively settled by the 748th section of the Code itself, which declares that the Code of Practice in civil actions, as amended, shall regulate the procedure in all civil actions and proceedings in the courts of this commonwealth, and that all laws coming within the purview of its provisions shall be repealed: provided, however, that actions and proceedings commenced before this act goes into effect, shall not be affected by the provisions of this section.

The section just quoted was enacted by the legislature at the session of 1853-54, and went into effect on the 1st day of July, 1854. The present action was commenced in October, 1854, and the proceedings therein are consequently regulated by the Code of Practice, and not by the Revised Statutes.

As, therefore, the witnesses resided in an adjoining county, the circuit court erred in permitting their depositions to be read upon the trial, although their residence was more than thirty miles distant from the place of trial, without proof that they were unable to attend court.

Wherefore, the judgment is reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial in conformity with this opinion.