Section 15-2-22
Witnesses.
When an application for a change of venue is presented to the court, the judge shall have authority to, and may, direct the issue of subpoenas for such number of witnesses for either the defendant or the state as he may deem just and proper to appear before the court on the hearing of such application to testify as to the facts concerning the issues made by such application. The number and names of such witnesses shall be subject to the control and discretion of the court, and the costs are to be taxed as provided in Section 12-19-233. This section shall not prevent the presentation of facts by affidavit.
(Code 1907, §7855; Code 1923, §5584; Code 1940, T. 15, §272.)