Report No. 60
3.34. Stephen's definition.-
Stephen's definition in his Digest of Evidence1 is simpler. He defines "document" as any substance having any matter expressed or described upon it by marks capable of being read. The definition is useful as making it clear that the substance constitutes the document. The definition by Stephen is, however, narrow, in one respect. It lays emphasis on what can be read. Stephen was, perhaps, thinking of the conventional method of writing, which is the normal device adopted by literate persons to communicate their ideas-including, of course, printing.
1. Stephen's, Digest of Evidence, Article 1.
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