INTERROGATORIES (from Lat. interrogn !aril's. consisting of questions, from in tcrrogarc, to question, from inter, between rogare, to ask). Questions in writing prepared for the examination of one or more witnesses in a judi cial proceeding, to be taken out of court.
In the English and American law interroga tories are commonly employed in the following classes of cases: Where the testimony of an aged or infirm witness is to be taken before trial, in order that it may be available in case of his death; where a witness is out of the jurisdiction, and it is desirable to obtain his testimony or deposition, as it. is called; and in connection with a bill of discovery (q.v.k in equity. In the first two classes of cases the practice is for the counsel desiring the testimony to obtain an order, or commission, from the court, directing that the examination be taken before sonic officer com petent to administer an oath, and then to pre pare his interrogatories and submit them to the opposite party or his counsel. who may prepare
cross-interrogatories. In some jurisdictions the legal competency of the questions is settled by the court before the examination, and in others the objections of counsel are noted at the time of the examination and ruled upon at the trial. The commission and the interrogatories are then forwarded to the designated officer, who summons the witnesses on the clay fixed, administers the oath, propounds the questions, rednees the answers to writing and transmits them. together with the order and interrogatories, to the court out of which the commission issued. Such exam inations arc subject to all the rules of evidence.
Interrogatories -are sometimes annexed to a libel (q.v.) in an action in admiralty, but this is not common practice. See DEPOSITiONS I Eva