Bohr v. Steamboat Baton Rouge
Bohr v. Steamboat Baton Rouge
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff instituted this suit by attachment against the Steamboat Baton Rouge, (not knowing the name of the master or owner) according to the statute, for damage to three boxes of merchandise, which had been shipped on the boat at New Orleans, directed to the plaintiff at Natchez. The goods, it seems, were originally shipped from New York, and re-shipped at New Orleans. The deposition of the commission merchant
An application for a continuance is addressed to the discretion of the court, and if it be refused, cannot generally be assigned as error. But the plaintiff did not make a sufficient showing to entitle him to it.
It does not appear by the record on what ground the deposition of Beck was ruled out; the only light we get on this subject is from the arguments of counsel. It is admitted that a commission issued, and, in connection with this admission, the cross-interrogatories filed by the defendants, would justify a presumption that it was regularly issued. But there was an agreement entered into between the counsel for plaintiff and defendant, which imposed conditions that have not, as it is said, been complied with. By this agreement the counsel of both parties consented that a commission might issue forthwith, without affidavit, and that one day’s notice should be given of the time and place of taking the deposition, to Thomas R. Lee & Co. No. 7, Magazine street, New Orleans. This notice was given to the firm of Henry R. Lee & Co. and one of the firm attended the taking of the deposition. As cross-interrogatories ■had been filed, we see no motive which could have induced the insertion of this condition, unless the firm mentioned had ait interest in the suit. If so it was competent for their counsel to make this provision in their favor. The notice, however, was not given to Thomas R. Lee & Co., but to Henry R. Lee & Co. No doubt proof might have been introduced to show that the latter firm was intended ; that would have left the deposition unobjectionable in this particular. But we cannot know that the notice was required to be given to Henry R. Lee & Co.; there may be a firm in New Orleans under the name of Thomas R. Lee & Co.
But the judgment in this case maybe placed on a ground less questionable. It comes up by bill of exceptions, taken under
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John G. Bohr v. Steamboat Baton Rouge
- Status
- Published