Coates v. Merrick Thread Co.

This is a motion for a commission to take the testimony of Frederick Smith, of Burlington, Kan., as a witness on the part of complainants, upon interrogatories in the usual form. The granting of the motion is practically unopposed, but defendants insist that they should be allowed to attend by counsel before the commissioner, and to cross-examine the witness orally, if they so desire. In effect, this would turn the proceeding into a viva voce examination, because it can hardly he supposed that the complainants will run the risk of waiving all redirect examination, as they must necessarily do, if they are not advised in advance what cross-interrogatories will be put. Without passing upon the two points raised by complainants, viz., that such a composite commission as'is proposed is not known to equity practice, and that no oral examination, whether direct or cross, can he had without the notice required by equity rule 67, I am of the opinion that the modification asked for by the defendants should not be allowed. Concededly, such a mode of taking proof, namely, by interrogatories in chief settled in advance, and *74by cross-interrogatories not disclosed in advance, but suggested upon the examination, is unusual and extraordinary. If its allowance is within the discretion of the court, such discretion should only be exercised when a clear case of necessity is made out. There is nothing in the papers submitted to indicate the existence of such necessity.' The name, residence, or personal appearance of the supposed agent, the circumstances attending his visit, and his statements as to himself and his business, so far as all these are within the knowledge of the witness, can surely be elicited from the latter by cross-interrogatories prepared in the usual way.