The deposition of a material witness may be taken: (1) when he is a non-resident of the State and beyond the jurisdiction of the court; (2) when he is about to depart from the State to remain permanently, or will not return in time to testify at the trial; (3) when a witness is sick and about to die, or too ill to appear in court; (4) when a witness is growing old and it is desired to perpetuate his testimony for probable future litigation.

Depositions are not allowed to be taken and cannot be introduced in evidence in criminal cases.