Stephens v. Liquid Carbonic Co.

(After stating the foregoing facts.) If the proceeding had been one to take interrogatories under section 5886 of the Civil Code of 1910, or to take depositions before a notary under section 5905, the contentions of the defendant might have been urged with a degree of force, on the theory that any such proceeding to take his testimony was illegal, and he should not be held in contempt for refusing to obey an unauthorized mandate of the court. It has been held that it is not contempt of court for a witness who is being examined by interrogatories to refuse to answer illegal or impertinent…