Durant v. Goss

(after stating the facts as above). Section 724 of the Revised Statutes (Comp. St. § 1469) provides that, “in the trial of actions at law, the courts of the United States may, on motion and due notice thereof, require the parties to produce books or writings in their possession or power, winch contain evidence pertinent to the issue, in cases and under circumstances where they might be compelled to produce the same by the ordinary rules of proceeding in chancery.” The purpose of this provision is to provide a substitute for discovery in aid of a legal action. Carpenter v. Winn, 221 U. S.…