1. Every person, judge or other officer of the state required to take the depositions or examination of witnesses, in pursuance of sections 492.080 to 492.400 or by virtue of any commission issuing out of any court of record in this or any other government, shall have power to issue subpoenas for witnesses to appear and testify, and to compel their attendance, in the same manner and under like penalties as any court of record of this state.

2. Any person summoned as a witness in virtue of the provisions of sections 492.080 to 492.400 and attending, who shall refuse to give evidence which may be lawfully required to be given by him, on oath or affirmation, may be committed to prison by the officer or person authorized to take his deposition or testimony, there to remain without bail until he gives such evidence, or until he be discharged by due course of law; provided, that in case such person be discharged from such commitment or imprisonment upon habeas corpus sued therefor, the party or parties litigant, in whose behalf the refused evidence shall have been required, shall be liable to pay such person the costs by him incurred in effecting such discharge; and the judge or court hearing the application for discharge may, in its discretion, at the time of such discharge, allow a further sum of not exceeding twenty-five dollars for an attorney’s fee for prosecuting the proceedings on habeas corpus, to be paid by such party or parties litigant to the person so discharged; and provided further, that until such costs and attorney’s fee, if one be allowed, are paid or tendered to such person, he shall not be required further to depose or testify in the cause in which he was so summoned.

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 492.270

  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Habeas corpus: A writ that is usually used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine the legality of his imprisonment. It may also be used to bring a person in custody before the court to give testimony, or to be prosecuted.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.