Ex Parte Wright

At the time the local law creating the office "official stenographer of Jefferson County" (Acts 1901, pp. 2255-2258) was enacted, the chancery court had not been abolished, and, under the law and rules of chancery practice of that date, testimony taken in cases pending in chancery was taken by deposition, reduced to writing before a commissioner of the appointment of the register, or examiner appointed by the chancellor. Code 1896, §§ 723-740; Rules Ch. Pr. 40-65. At that time there was no statute or rule of practice authorizing the oral examination of witnesses in the presence of the court,…