U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia, 1829

Sanderson's Case

Sanderson's Case
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia · Decided May 15, 1829
3 D.C. 638; 21 F. Cas. 326; 3 Cranch 638
Sanderson's Case

Opinion of the Court

*639The Court (Thruston, J., absent,) said, that it seemed to the Court that he might be implicated by answering the question, and he was the sole judge whether’it would; and, if it would, he was not bound to answer the question.

Morsell, J., was not clear that it could implicate him.

Cranch, C. J., thought that it might form a link in the chain of circumstances, leading to a prosecution against himself, as the publisher of the paper; for, although the paper was printed in Baltimore,’ it might have been published here. At least it is questionable, whether sending a paper here would not be a publication here; and, as the witness was now here, he might possibly be prosecuted here. ,

He was not compelled to answer.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.