July 4th, 2008

2:03pm Friday 4th July 2008

From the Durham County Advertiser 50 years ago.

- An official court reporter with 28 years' experience in America, who writes Pitman shorthand at the rate of 300 words per minute - flew from New York during the weekend to spend his vacation in Durham.

Mrs Hunter, principal of Durham Commercial College and secretary of the National Association of Advanced Education and Commerce, has organised a course of lectures designed for students of Pitman's shorthand at which Mr Kligman, an ardent lover of the system, is giving them instructions on how it is possible to attain high speed.

Pitman's shorthand has become part of his life: even the bow he wears has written upon it in fine thread his full name in shorthand, and a background depicting parts of the world and, in the midst of all, the cathedral tower of Durham.

He was once given a most unusual assignment. Evidence was required for an impending divorce case as to the relationship between "the boss and his secretary".

Mr Kligman was asked to take a seat in a closet next to the room in which "the boss and his secretary"

were at the time. In that darkened closet, with the aid of a small flashlight, he recorded the conversation that took place between them, and that evidence was produced in court and led to a decree nisi. Once, he recorded every word that was spoken at a a spiritual seance.

* Compiled with the help of Durham County Council's Clayport library

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