JOHNSONS v. Peoples Cab Co.

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Musmanno,

The primary object of a trial in our American courts' is to bring to the tribunal, which is passing on the dispute involved,' those person's who Lnoiv of their own knowledge the facts to which they testify. If it were not for this absolute sine qua non, trials could be conducted on paper without the presence of a single flesh and blood witness. However, with such a pen-and-ink procedure, there would be no opportunity to check on testimonial defects such as fallacious memory, limited observation, purposeful distortions, and outright fabrication. The great engine…