Rowe v. Shaw , 56 Me. 306 ( 1868 )

Appleton, C. J.

At the April term, 1868, of this Court, the parties to this cause, with their respective witnesses, attended Court for the purpose of trying the same. Finding it could not be reached in season to be closed during the week, they agreed to go home with their witnesses and return at a time when it could be tried. They returned to Court and commenced the trial upon Thursday of the next week, being the day specified in their agreement. The case was not closed until the following Monday.

(1.) The' plaintiff having paid his witnesses their travel each time they attended Court during the term, now claims that the sums thus paid should be taxed in his bill of cost. The witnesses went home for the convenience of the parties and by their mutual agreement. The expenses of litigation would have been increased by their remaining. The R. S., c. 116, § 14, allows a certain sum "for each mile’s travel going out and returning home.” The parties agreed that their witnesses should go home and return again to Court, instead of remaining until' the case should be in order for trial. The arrangement was a judicious one, and can only be carried out in good faith by allowing the taxation as claimed by the plaintiff.

(2.) The witnesses remained in attendance during the Sabbath. Their presence was necessary. A witness is entitled to his fees, taxed during the whole time of his actual attendance during the trial of the case, although the examination on both sides be closed; or although the illness of counsel suspend the trial of the case. Whipple v. Cumberland Cotton Co., 3 Story, 84. "If the witnesses had left the Court without leave,” remarks the Court, " they would have been liable for all damages, as well as to be attached, if their presence was required in the intermediate trial before their return.”

By It. S., c. 116, § 11, grand jurors and jurors for trials are allowed a certain sum " per day, for their attendance.” Jurors have always been paid for their attendance, the Sabbath being included. Indeed, a verdict may lawfully be returned on the Sabbath, if the cause have been committed to the jury before that day. Webber v. Merrill, 34 N. H., 202 ; True v. Plumley, 36 Maine, 466.

By c. 116, § 13, witnesses in the Supreme Judicial Court are allowed a certain sum " for each day’s attendance.” The language is substantially the same as that relating to jurors. The construction, which gives compensation to the juryman, is equally applicable to the witness, whose attendance is cotemporaneous with that of the juryman. Such, too, has been the view taken whenever the question has arisen.

In Schott v. Benson, 1 Blatchf., Cir. C’t, 564, it was held that witnesses from a distance are entitled to fees for attendance on Sunday, when detained over that day. In Muscott v. Runge, 27 How. Pr., 85, a witness residing at a distance from Court, was held entitled to his fees for attending on Sunday as well as on secular days. This decision is cited with approbation in Wheeler v. Ruckman, 5 Robertson, 708. It was the duty of the witnesses, if duly summoned and their lees paid, to have been present at the opening of the Court on Monday. They would have been liable for contempt, had they been absent when their testimony was needed. It would have been no excuse, that they had gone home to spend the Sabbath, and that the distance was such that they could not reach the Court in due season. The respective parties, too, were bound to have their witnesses seasonably in Court, and to do whatever was necessary to procure their attendance. The witnesses were entitled to their fees for remaining. The plaintiff being compelled to advance them for that purpose, should be allowed that amount in his bill of costs. Exceptions overruled.

D. D. Stewart, for the defendant. Gr. W. Whitney, for the plaintiff. Kent, Walton, Dickerson, Barrows, Danforts and Tapley, JJ., concurred.