Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/36

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32
TENNESSEE EVOLUTION TRIAL

have a right to pass him back and then you take him or reject him. That is our practice.

Mr. Darrow—I thought they were trying to put something over on us.

The Court—No, if they tried to I would not let them.

Mr. Darrow—Don't let them.

Venireman No. 6, Jess Goodrich, being duly sworn, was examined as follows by the court:

Q—Mr. Goodrich are you a householder or freeholder of Rhea county?

A—Yes, sir.

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

A—Yes, sir.

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

A—No, sir.

Q—You have not?

A—No, sir.

Q—Have you heard of this case, Mr. Goodrich?

A—Yes, sir, I have heard rumors of it.

Q—You didn't hear any evidence?

A—No, sir.

Q—You have no bias or leaning or prejudice either way, you say?

A—No, sir.

Q—You think you would be absolutely free from prejudice?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—And could try the case on the law and the evidence?

A—Yes, sir.

J. G. McKenzie—Pass him to you, Colonel.

Mr. Darrow—You mean we may examine him?

The Court—You can ask him any question you wish and pass him back to him.

Examination by Mr. Darrow:

Q—What is your name?

A—Goodrich.

Q—What?

A—Goodrich.

Q—How do you spell it?

A—G-O-O-D-R-I-C-H.

Q—What is your business?

A—Shipping clerk.

Q—What is it?

A—Shipping clerk in a wholesale house.

Q—Here in Dayton?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Have you been in that business long?

A—A year and a half.

Q—What did you do before that?

A—Sold goods for ten years or so.

Q—Here in this town?

A—In this county.

Q—That was in a store, working as a clerk?

A—No, not inside.

Q—Where was that?

A—Eleven miles from here, north.

Q—Did you ever farm here?

A—Farm? Oh! I have done a little side farming.

Q—Are you a member of the church?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Of what church?

A—The Christian church.

Q—That is what some of us up north call Disciples?

A—Well, yes.

Q—Or Campbellites?

A—Yes.

Q—Is there a church of that sort here?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—I haven't been around long enough to know about it. Has your minister, so far as you know, taken any hand in this evolution case?

Mr J. G. McKenzie—Colonel, would you mind letting us in on your conversation over there, for we can't hear a word of it.

Mr. Darrow—I asked him whether or not his minister had taken any hand in this evolution case.

Q—Have you been a member of the Christian church for a good while?

A—About eight years.

Q—That was the first church you joined?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—You are a regular attendant, are you?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Did you ever hear anything about evolution?

A—A good deal.