Upon the application of any grantee, or any person claiming under the grantee, verified by the oath of the applicant setting forth that the grantor is dead, out of the state, or refuses to acknowledge the deed, and that any witness to the conveyance residing in the county where the application is made refuses to appear and testify touching its execution and that the conveyance cannot be proven without the evidence of the witness, any officer authorized to take the acknowledgment or proof of conveyances may issue a subpoena requiring the witness to appear and testify before the officer touching the execution of the conveyance.
ORS 93.460