Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/34

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
30
TENNESSEE EVOLUTION TRIAL

Is there any reason why you could not be a fair juryman?

A—Which?

Q—There is not any reason why you could not be a fair juryman, is there?

A—No, sir, I believe not.

Q—Did you ever hear many people talk about this case?

A—Yes, I have heard a heap of talk about it in the past three or four months.

Q—Have you paid much attention to it?

A—Yes, I guess I have.

Q—You have heard talk on both sides, haven't you?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—You haven't been able to make up your mind yet, have you?

A—I have not, no, sir; I haven't decided myself.

Q—What?

A—I have not decided myself, except I have heard people talking about it.

Q—You don't know whether anybody who talked about it knew anything about it, do you?

A—No, sir.

Q—Nobody but the lawyers know anything about it? You just let it go and paid no attention to it? You haven't any prejudice? How is that? Do you know what your neighbors think about it?

A—I do not, no, sir.

Q—Do you care?

A—No, sir.

Q—It doesn't make any difference to you what anybody says?

A—No, sir.

Q—You would do what you thought was right, would you?

A—Yes, sir.

Mr. Darrow—I think you would, too. You are a juror.

Court—What do you say, gentlemen?

J. G. McKenzie—Have a seat.

Mr. Darrow—I wasn't through.

Court—I beg your pardon; I thought you said, "You are a juror."

J. G. McKenzie—I thought so, too, or I would have waited.

Mr. Darrow—I agree, but the state had not challenged, as I understand it. Your practice is different.

Venireman J. T. Leuty was duly sworn and replied as follows to questions asked by the court:

Q—Are you a householder or freeholder in this county?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Are you related to Walter White, the prosecutor, or to J. T. Scopes, the defendant?

A—No, sir.

Q—Have you formed or expressed an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of this defendant?

A—No, sir.

Q—Have you no opinion about his guilt or innocence?

A—Rumor.

Q—Just due to rumor?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—You have had no definite information?

A—No, sir.

Q—If chosen on the jury, could you go into the box without prejudice or bias either way, and try the case on the law and the evidence?

A—Yes, sir.

Court—He is a competent juror.

J. G. McKenzie—Col. Darrow, did you accept 'Squire Smith?

Mr. Darrow—Oh, yes.

Examination by J. G. McKenzie:

Q—Mr. Leuty, you say you have been hearing about this case?

A—No, sir, just talk.

Q—And the first fact discussed was in regard to the arrest of Mr. Scopes?

A—Well, I think that—

Q—When he was arrested?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—And of course everybody formed an opinion, and naturally would? That's right?

Mr. Darrow—Did he answer that?

A—No, I didn't exactly form an opinion or anything about it.

Q—Did you form any opinion at all? You didn't form any opinion at all?

A—No, sir; I didn't hear any evidence in this case, and didn't form any opinion at all.

Q—You didn't form any opinion from what you heard other people say?

A—No, sir.

Q—And haven't an opinion now?

A—No, sir.