The phrase "told in open court" refers to a statement made under oath during a legal proceeding. There are various synonyms that can be used to express this phrase, including "declared in a courtroom," "stated on the record," "testified in a public forum," "spoken in a judicial hearing," and "presented in an open trial." These synonyms convey the same idea that a statement was made by a witness or party under penalty of perjury and subjected to cross-examination. Such statements carry substantial weight in court and can ultimately determine the outcome of a legal case.