SHORTHAND HUMOUR.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16411, 3 January 1919, Page 5

SHORTHAND HUMOUR.

PITMAN RIVAL AWARDED A FARTHING DAMAGES.

Humorous examples of id?ntl>"al shorthand outlines having a widely different meaning were instanced before Mr Justice Darling in f.tm.lon in November, at the resumption of the hearing of the action for libel brought by the inventor of Dutton's shorthand against Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. Judgment was given for the plaintiff, with one farthing damages, but without costs. *Mr Dutton had alleged that Messrs Pitman had published a pamphlet which held his system up to ridicule. Mr Ellis Powell, editor o? tb«> "Financial News," a witness for the defence, said he agreed with the criticism in the pamphlet. Witness then gave instances of possible confusion in some of the outlines. "You have the same outline for purse and pulse," ho said; "so you could write either: "The man fell to the ground and I felt for his purse (or his pulse).' Again, you would write: 'He took his sweetheart for a walk along the dingle (or the dunghill).' ■ You could say: 'She received him in characteristic artless (heartless, or hatless) , fashion.' There was considerable difference between curse and caress, yet Dutton had same outline. You might have, 'She gave hitn her sweetest smile, and he answered with a caress (or curse).' " Mr C. Baker, editor and proprietor of the "Newspaper World," expressed the opinion that the expedients and combinations in the Dutton system were too risky. In his view it was not a system Jie could recommend to his readers for-rapid reporting. Mr Thomas, plaintiff's oounsel, described the criticism as an attempt to down what had become a dangerous rival. Mr Cope, the writer of the article, had 2o years ago been employed to crush other systems. Mr Justice Darling, in entering judgment for the plaintiff, said it could only oe putting a very strained interpretation upon the words used that could read into this case any libel upon plaintiff himself as distinguished from a very drastic criticism upon the system of shorthand which he had invented. In these circumstances there was really no ground for bringing the action.