| U.S. Circuit Court for the District of District of Columbia | Nov 15, 1829
on account of the death of his brother), said that the call was too general, and that the bank ought not to be compelled to produce them unless the plaintiffs should first satisfy the court that they • contained evidence pertinent to the issue; and then thej' could be compelled to produce only such as they show to be pertinent.
•Mr. Neale contended that he had a right to examine them before the trial, to see whether there were not something in them pertinent to the issue. .
But THE COURT said he had no such right. The plaintiffs then gave notice to the defendants to produce, at the trial, the letter-books of the bank which contain their letters to their dealers, notifying them of the acceptance or non-acceptance of such drafts, payable after date, as have been sent to the bank for collection; and also such letter-books as contain their letters notifying their dealers that individuals had not been found by the officers of the bank on whom drafts had been drawn payable after date, and sent to the bank for collection; and moved the court to order the defendants to produce those books.
THE COURT refused to make the order; not being satisfied that the books contained any matter pertinent to the issue, (no particular letter being designated,) and not being of opinion that the plaintiff has a right to inspect the books for the purpose-of ascertaining whether they contained any such matter. The cause was tried. Verdict for defendant. Exceptions taken to the rejection of evidence, but no important point of law decided by the court.