RS 873 - Taking testimony of master, officer or transient person
When the testimony of any master or officer of any vessel, or of any transient person is required by a magistrate before whom a prosecution has been commenced under the provisions of R.S. 34:869, which testimony is necessary for and is to be used on the trial of the case before the district court, the magistrate may, after giving five days' notice to the party accused, summon the witness to appear before the judge of the district court in which a prosecution may have been commenced, to give evidence in the same manner as if examined in open court; the accused at the time of this examination shall be assigned counsel by the judge, if he have none, and shall have the right to cross examine the witness; the evidence given shall be reduced to writing, and shall be signed by the witness, certified to, and sealed up by the judge before whom it is taken, and shall be used on the trial of the case before the district court, provided that the magistrate before whom the prosecution was commenced makes oath that the witness is not, at the time of the trial, within the jurisdiction of the court.