PROSECUTION WANTS TO EXCLUDE TESTIMONY OF SCIENTISTS IN SCOPES TRIAL
Dayton, Tennessee (JFK+50) On July 16, 1925, Associated Press reports that prosecutors of John Thomas Scopes, Tennessee teacher charged with violation of the state's anti-evolution law, have "made a formal motion" to exclude the testimony of scientists during the trial.
William Jennings Bryan, Jr.*, making his first appearance for the prosecution, said the proposed "expert testimony" is the "weakest...most capable of abuse and the most dangerous."
AP says that William Jennings Bryan, Sr., also a prosecuting attorney in the trial, listened attentively to every word his son uttered.
Defense attorney Arthur Garfield Hays** countered...
"I...must be shown that there is variance between what (Mr. Scopes) taught and the Bible," and asked that the defense be allowed "to show what evolution is and what the Bible is."
*William Jennings Bryan, Jr., (1889-1978) was born in Lincoln, Nebraska & graduated University of Arizona, 1912, & studied at University of Nebraska & Georgetown School of Law.
WJBJ served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for District of Arizona 1915-1919 & as Collector of the Port of Los Angeles, 1938-1953.
**Arthur Garfield Hays (1881-1954) was born in Rochester, NY & earned his BA & LLB at Columbia Univesity. AGH became a lawyer for the ACLU.
SOURCE
"State Opens Fight To Ban Experts As Scopes Witnesses," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., July 16, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
Arthur Garfield Hays
