Page:The World's Most Famous Court Trial - 1925.djvu/23

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
FIRST DAY'S PROCEEDINGS
19

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Now, whereabouts do you live now?

A—Spring City.

Q—How far is that from here?

A—It is about sixteen or eighteen miles.

Q—And what do you do now for a living?

A—Farming.

Q—A farm of your own?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Do you belong to the church?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—What one?

A—Methodist, Southern Methodist.

Q—You have belonged to that church most of your life, I suppose?

A—No, sir; six or seven years.

Q—Join it here?

A—I belong at Washington.

Q—Now, have you ever heard anything about evolution?

A—I have read about it, yes, sir.

Q—Do you remember what you read it in?

A—Newspapers.

Gen. Stewart—Talk louder, please.

Q—(Mr. Darrow) If you will face the court, I will hear and my friend will hear you over there, All of us will hear. You have read in the newspapers, anywhere else?

A—I do not know. I may have read in magazines, something like that, just through reading.

Q—You do read magazines, do you?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—Do you take any magazines?

A—No, sir; not now.

Q—Have you ever heard anybody talk about it, make speeches or sermons?

A—No, sir; not public speeches.

Q—You have heard this case talked about?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—By people around town or people in your town?

A—Yes, sir.

Q—You have heard them say what they thought about it?

A—Well, some I have, yes, sir.

Q—Well, now I am not asking what you thought about it, but have you ever expressed your opinion as we call it?

A—Well, I don't know, I might have done so.

Q—How?

A—I might have done so. I don't know.

Q—Well, if you had you don't remember, is that right? If you have, you do not remember. If you know—

A—I don't.

Q—What?

A—I don't know, I expect I have. It is the general talk all over the community, all over the county, all over the country since this came up.

Q—You need not tell me now what you said, but do you remember now what you said?

A—No, sir.

Q—Well, have you any opinion now as to what should be done in this case? You need not tell what it is, but have you an opinion?

A—Do you mean as to the guilt or innocence?

Q—Yes.

A—No, sir.

Q—Have you any opinion as to what ought to be done if you are a juror, I mean, at this time?

A—No, sir.

Q—Have you any opinion on evolution at all?

A—I have, yes.

Q—How long have you had it?

A—Well, I have been almost since—

Gen. Stewart—We except to that, if the court please?

The court—I am not sure whether that would be competent or not, Colonel. I think the question is whether or not he has an opinion as to the guilt or innocence of this defendant.

Mr. Darrow—That is my—

The court—Of course, for your own information, I might allow you to ask about that, that you might determine whether or not you would wish to peremptorily challenge him.

Mr. Darrow—Yes. Have you got a strong opinion one way of the other on evolution?

A—Yes, I have my opinion on evolution, yes.

Q—Do you know where you got it?