Opinion ID: 92222
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: The Construction of the Instruments.

Text: The court said that nobody knew the actual construction of the original machines except Drawbaugh himself. But there is much evidence beside that of Drawbaugh as to their construction, as will be seen by reference to the testimony cited in the accompanying brief, for example, H.K. Drawbaugh could reproduce the machines from memory. (Def., Vol. 1, pp. 566-7, Ans. 129, 130). Steinberger described one from memory. (Def., Vol. 1, pp. 344-6), and so did Schrader (Def. Sur. Reb., pp. 470-1, and see ten others cited in brief).  Finally. The court says, in its opinion: `We do not doubt that Drawbaugh may have conceived the idea that speech could be transmitted to a distance by means of electricity, and that he was experimenting upon that subject,' meaning, as is clear from the context, that he did this before Bell's invention.  The Drawbaugh story, then, is no afterthought growing out of Bell's discoveries, but is based upon the admitted facts of a prior conception of the possibility of electric speech-transmission and prior experiments actually made to accomplish it. The same witnesses who satisfy the judgment of the court as to these facts, identify the machines and testify to their successful working, and are neither impeached nor contradicted as to these additional facts. At another point, referring to Drawbaugh, the court says: `He was a skilful and ingenious mechanic... . He was also somewhat of an inventor, and had some knowledge of electricity. According to the testimony he was an enthusiast on the subject of his `talking-machine,' and showed it freely to his neighbors and people from the country when they visited his shop.' p. 557 supra. Taking these admitted facts together his prior conception of the possibility of electric speech transmission; his experiments to accomplish it; and, during his experiments his enthusiasm about the talking-machine  how can his enthusiasm be accounted for? Is it conceivable that enthusiasm resulted from constant failure? Can it be explained on any other reasonable theory than that his machines were producing the successful results about which the corroborating witnesses so abundantly testify? And why should he exhibit the invention so freely to the surrounding public, if it constantly failed to work when thus exhibited? Did he exhibit it as a failure or as a success? Can his conduct at the time, especially when taken in connection with his contemporary declarations that he had achieved the result, and was going to patent the invention, and wanted financial aid to secure the patents, be reconciled with any other theory than that of success? And is it not clear that the court has erred as to the evidential force of the facts which it admits to have been established? On account of the errors above referred to, which will be made more apparent by reference to the accompanying brief, and to the end, therefore, that equity may be done, and that this court may, upon fuller consideration and with the advantage of oral argument, revise its former opinion (if revision be right and proper), your petitioners pray that the court may be pleased to take their suggestions under a careful consideration and grant a rehearing upon the points upon which said decision was based, and grant such other relief and order as in equity and good conscience may be proper. New York, May 1st, 1888. LYSANDER HILL, GEORGE F. EDMUNDS, DON M. DICKINSON, CHARLES P. CROSBY, HENRY C. ANDREWS, Of Counsel with Appellants. There was also filed with this petition a full brief, signed by the same counsel, with many references to the evidence. MR. JUSTICE MILLER, May 14, 1888, delivered the opinion of the court. No Justice who united in the opinion of the court having asked for a rehearing, the application is denied.