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The Green Bag
allowed. In explanation, M. Coquelin stated that though materially his hand was not upon his heart, it was so morally. A new trial, however, was necessitated by his inadvertence. "All of which," the actor used to say, "came from play ing a r6le without first rehearsing." (Communicated.) A CORRECT STENOGRAPHIC REPORT AN old rough looking practitioner stepped up to the bar of the Muni cipal Court of Chicago and said : "If the court please, I tender for your signature a true and accurate bill of exceptions in the case of Wink v. Wink." A young attorney pushed his way hurriedly through the crowded room, and, as he reached the bar, quickly said, "I object to it." The judge removed his glasses from his fat face, looked down upon the young attorney and then dryly asked, "And what is the ground of your objection?" "The Municipal Court Act provides that a 'Correct Stenographic Report' must be presented to the trial judge for his signature. My objection is that this is not a correct stenographic report." "Well, your honor," interrupted the old practitioner, "while the Municipal Court Act may have called it a 'Correct Stenographic Report,' instead of a bill of exceptions, it is only such in name. What the statute contemplates is a correct report of the proceedings. This is a correct, accurate and true report of what actually took place on the trial of this case, and it should be signed." "Well, then if the court please, I object to it because it is not a correct report," interrupted the young attorney. "Prove then wherein it is not correct?" interjected the old practitioner. "Wherein do you say it is not correct?" asked the judge.
"Well, I don't know just where. I haven't a full stenographic report of it. I would rather say it is wrong all the way through, as your honor will readily see by reading it."" "Your honor," interjected the old practitioner, "the rules of this court say that we must present a correct steno graphic report of what took place at the trial of the case. I am now presenting that, and the burden is upon him to show wherein it is not correct. If he cannot show that it is wrong, then of course it must be correct and your honor must sign it according to the rules of this court. It is therefore not necessary for the court to take any time in reading it." "That is the rule," admonished the judge. "Well, your honor," said the young attorney. "Every question and every answer in this transcript has been framed to aid his side of the case, while my side of the case is entirely left out." The judge picked up the transcript and turned through the two hundred pages, and then said, "This has regular questions and answers in the usual form, and appears to be a full stenographic report. Is this a transcript of the steno grapher's notes, or what is it?" "No, your honor," replied the old practitioner. "I didn't have a stenog rapher. It was his stenographer. I personally made this up from the notes I myself took on the trial, and I person ally know it is a true, accurate and cor rect transcript of what took place at the trial of this case, and one that we are willing to stand by. And that is what the Act calls for." "Then I will sign it, unless you are prepared to show that it is not correct," asserted the judge warningly. "But your honor," said the young attorney, "then you will force me to go to the further expense of about $100
