dricejb@drilex.dri.mgh.com (Craig Jackson) (09/26/89)
Somebody asked what 'telegrams' were used for today. I don't believe that
true telegrams exist in the U.S. anymore, meaning written communications
handled on both ends by Western Union, but 'telegrams' still have a special
place in U.S. legal usage. Twice, I have sold houses when I was out of town
when I accepted the offer. In each case, the real-estate agent instructed
me to send a telegram indicating acceptance. In both cases, I actually
called the telegram in to the 800 number; in the most recent case, the
telegram was actually delivered by mail, WU no longer having any messengers
in this area (Boston).
I've never checked this usage with a lawyer; it could be that the real-estate
agents were just using old practices. But some of them hadn't been in the
business long enough to be familiar with real telegrams.
Craig Jackson
dricejb@drilex.dri.mgh.com
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