The Constitution, Censorship and the Schools: Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes
Peter Neal Herndon
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Give FeedbackVII.Day Seven: July 20 (Monday)
Monday's session began abruptly. Judge Raulston immediately cited
Darrow for contempt of court for remarks expressed on Friday to the
court that were "contemptuous and insulting."
After lunch, Darrow made a statement to the court apologizing for his
ill-mannered remarks on Friday. The Judge, in the name of Christ,
forgave Darrow and accepted his apology with these words, "we
forgive him and we forget it, and we commend him to go back home
and learn in his heart the words of the Man who said: 'If you thirst
come unto Me and I will give thee life.'" (Quoted in Grebstein, 143)
The courtroom applauded, as they had Darrow when he had finished
his remarks. At this point, Judge Raulston announced that cracks had
developed in the ceiling beneath the courtroom. He was fearful that
the building would collapse, so he ordered court to convene outdoors
for the afternoon session. The evidence by scientists continued to be
read into the record (approximately 35,000 words altogether from
seven scientists).
Next, the Judge agreed to have a large sign saying "READ YOUR
BIBLE" removed from the courthouse, near where the absent jury
was scheduled to sit. Again the judge wanted to appear as "fair" as
he could.
Then, the surprise move by the Defense came: they wanted to call
William Jennings Bryan as a witness, an expert witness on the Bible!
The judge hesitated, the Prosecution objected, but Bryan seemed
afraid not to. How could he refuse to give battle? He looked to the
Judge to save him, but Raulston seemed to welcome the opportunity,
giving Bryan permission to call Darrow to the witness stand as well.
That opportunity was to be denied Bryan, however. And Darrow was
to have the opportunity he had been waiting for since the trial
began--to attempt to make a "monkey" out of Bryan.
Throughout the questioning, Darrow relentlessly pointed to miracles
that, he said, could not have happened in a scientifically ordered
world. Bryan replied, "One miracle is just as easy to believe as
another." Darrow was frustrated at Bryan's refusal to give exact
answers. He got angrier.
DARROW:What do you think?
BRYAN:I could not say.
DARROW:(Was the estimate of the time of the flood figured out) from
the generations of man?
BRYAN:I would not want to say that.
DARROW:What do you think?
BRYAN:I do not think about things I don't think about.
DARROW:Do you think about things you do think about?
BRYAN:Well, sometimes. (Grebstein, 151)
At this even the judge joined in the laughter. And despite objections
for the questioning to stop, Bryan remained, insisting that the
defense had "no other purpose than ridiculing every Christian who
believes in the Bible." Darrow's response to Bryan: "We have the
purpose of preventing bigots and ignoramuses from controlling the
education of the United States and you know it--and that is all."
Bryan's final retort: "I am simply trying to protect the word of God
against the greatest atheist or agnostic in the United States.
(prolonged applause from the crowd) I want the papers to know I
am not afraid to get on the stand in front of him and let him do his
worst." (Grebstein, 164)
The questions continued. More arguing. Bryan did admit that the
"days" in Genesis, he thought were "periods of time" not necessarily
literal twenty-four hour days, but he "would not attempt to argue
against anybody who wanted to believe in literal days."
The testimony, which had lasted for over an hour and a half, was the
"event" everyone had hoped for. The questioning ended with both
men trading insults, and Bryan, obviously exhausted and trembling,
was still willing to continue until Darrow was satisfied.
BRYAN:I want the world to know that this man, who does not believe
in a God, is trying to use a court in Tennessee--.
DARROW:I object to that.
BRYAN:(continuing) to slur at it, and while it will require time, I am
willing to take it.
DARROW:I object to your statement. I am examining you on your fool
ideas that no intelligent Christian on earth believes. (Grebstein,
169,170)
Darrow had the final slap in the face. Court was adjourned until 9
A.M. Tuesday.
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