New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-15
THE REPORTERS VIEW OF 1T.

TIE kEPOkIEhS VIEW Or II.
Actual count gives the number of Che reporters
actively engaged in the reporting of the trial at 49,
There have been higher estimates, and at one time
there were probably 90 in attendance. But az the
trial advanced the working force of reporters was
considerably reduced Several papers at distance
recalled their correspondents, and the New-York
papers. with the exception of THE TRIBUNE, econ
omized by depending largely upon the reports
made by the Brooklyn papers. These papers pve
the proceedings in detail but not with great accu-
racy, from ii o'clock until three in the afternoon
IL Is not difficult task for the New YORK papers al
uded to to copy these reports of the first three hours
OF the trial and to make an original report Of the re-
naming hour. In this way two OF three men do for
each OF the other New York papers, except The
TRIBUNE, what would otherwise require 10 IL men
to do To make complete and verbatim report,
such as The TRIBUNE daily furnishes, requires II
men, Only five of those reporting for THE TRIBUNE
appear in court; the others assist at the neighbOr
ing branch office of The TRIBUNE, IN transcribing
the notes. the last of which are finished each day by
o'clock and are in tyre before every evening.
The Brooklyn Eagle employs eight men, all of whom
write out their notes in court and forward them by
messengers to the Office. The report made by them
is In type and for sale the street by o'clock and
thus 1t becomes available for the use of New-YOrk
dailies. The use thus made of The Eagles re-
port has already led to two libel suits
against journals in this city. In his opening
for the defense Gen. Tracy spoke of Mrs. Woodruff
as the most notorious advocate of free love-"
New-York papers, ilching The Eagles incorrect re-
port represented Mr.. Tracy as using much more vio
lent and libelous language. The paper at distance
which employs the largest number Of reporters is
The Chicago Tribune. Boston and Philadelphia jour-
nails largely depend on the very full summary of the
evidence furnished by the Associated Press.
The reporters look upon themselves as the Third
Parties to the suit, and claim certain rights and
privileges in consequence They have reserved
seate and tables over which, however each reporter
has to keep close watch and ward, or he has to
maintain pleasant relations with the court officers.
in order TO be secure from invasion by his neigh
bors. More than this, the reporter believes he has
undeniabe right to all the papers In the case and
often while The TRIBUNE stenographer az the
official recording officer OF the court, is putting into
legal shape the documentary evidence, by
marking the papers as exhibits and putting
his signature upon them that they NAV
be sworn to, half q dozen rival journal
lists stand ready to snatch the documents
that they may be copied The reporter does not
hesitate to write notes TO the Judge demanding that
witnesses be compelled TO speak louder" or
to counsel in the requiring that the one who
happens TO be speaking shall regulate hs speed IN
delivery to the accommodation Of tie slowest ste
nograper. The reporter even nvades the sacred do
main of the Bench and when distinguished visi-
tors are called to sit beside his Honor Judge Neil
son. they are compelled literally to climb over the
newspaper men who sit upon the steps to the Bench
These invaders have driven Clerk Madison from
his desk and dispute his right to reoccupy it, And
as for plaintiff and defendant they hold no CONVEX
sations in court or consultations with counsel in
which the reporter does not insist that be Is en-
titled to share, the import of which he is not
at liberty TO state if he can learn or guess It,
The estimation in which each of the counsel and
the Judge is held by the reporters may be matter
of interest to them it is to the public. Judge
Nelson is looked upon with dsfavor from the sten0
graphic point of view though very popular other
wise with the reporter. His tone of voice IL usually
subdued MS brief rulings are often unheard by the
stenographers most distant from the Bench. But it
is only in this respect that what Judge Nelson says
is difficult to report His delivery very deliberate
and his sentences brief and clear Mr. Eyart who
is the most deliberate speaker of all the counsel
and who il among The clearest toned aud lOudeSt
speakers is nevertheless looked upon by the sten0g
raphers as the most difficult lawyer TO report IL
is not because every word cannot be distinctly
heard and taken down, but because the infections
of voice. the emphasis of the words, and above ALL
the punctuation cannot bs expressed IN shorthand
II requires ingenuity and greater exercise OF
memory by the stenOgrapher to report Mr. Eyarts
than other speakers Reporting him cannot be maze
q mere mechanical or sleight-of-hand performance
even by the most rapid stenogrdpher for the reason
above indicated Sentences of Mr.. Evarts are so
long and 80 involved, frequently inter
rupted by parenthetical remarks injected into
the middle of phrase, just as the
thoughts suggest themselves tn the speakers
mind. that the reporter, when transcriblng the
notes must be able 10 recall in some degree at
least the emphasis and infections employed, IN or
der that he NAV properly punctuate the sentence
The sentences of Mr.. Evarts are SO long that we'll
known stenographer. who often had occasion TO re-
port him. told him that it was necessary TO got
on top of the capital initial letter of sentence, tel
escOpe in hand in order to see the full stop at the
other end of it, The havoc which so-caIled YER
batim reports sometimes make with Mr.. Evartss re-
marks is comcally illustrated by the following
comparison, which Will enable tle reader also to OBJ
serve how difficult il is to read Mr.. Evarts under
standingly even when he is properly reported. And
yet when heard the longest and most involved sen
fences spoken by this lawyer make their meaning
clear to the dullest listener:
Aat Mr. Rr1rt, Whatd recalled rbdtim Rpsrt
Rsoort ~ .otd
Honor say, be- Nov. ,our Honor '.y, that
sbor side that the difference Ou' s ,Io'
knoS this mat COM
- and notice th.t tht nakr. nuucaton BY the
difference ami gives them the bont 81 Mr. I'on %, .s
ngh; sua snd that the reesDnsh OF ma.
@e b the authority Of Mr. Til anl Affected by The
his wife that the other cculi.'ahes. ~
part Of the just Question depending upon 'me.
mach IN this 10 party introduces "" 81
y s ssss s SS sn1 dSes oa .s
Of cor binds have tse eomsai-
doc is ial, n p.rt Of bs res 70 bis wife and author