JUDGE REFUSES TO DISMISS INDICTMENT OF SCOPES AS REQUESTED BY DEFENSE
Dayton, Tennessee (JFK+50) On July 15, 1925, Judge John T. Raulston ruled that Tennessee's anti-evolution law is constitutional. The judge also refused to dismiss the indictment, as requested by the defense, of John T. Scopes charging him with violation of the Butler Act.
The ruling states that the state of Tennessee is "within its constitutional powers" in prohibiting the teaching of any theory of evolution that denies the Divine creation of man as presented in The Holy Bible.
The Court did, however, sustain defense attorney Clarence Darrow's objection to having the jury be informed of the religion of the lawyers in the case.
JFK+50 NOTE
Also on the front page of the July 15, 1925 edition of The Washington Times is a cartoon drawn by Hal Coffman* which includes in the caption...
"The whole thing (Scopes Trial) is like a sideshow at the circus--large banners, ballyhoo men shouting through megaphones and weather-beaten men and women fervently praying that the evolutionists will 'see the light.'"
*Harold Roberto 'Hal' Coffman (1883-1958) was born in Los Angeles, CA & started cartooning at the San Francisco Post, 1898. HC also worked at the LA Herald, LA Times & Philadelphia Inquier. He worked at the New York Journal & American for 27 years.
SOURCES
"Court Reads Ruling Against Evolution," by William K. Hutchinson, The Washington Times, July 15, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Ink-Slinger Profile: Hal Coffman," by Allan Holtz, March 27, 2012, Stripper's Guide, www.strippersguide.blogspot.com/
