The-Trail-That-Rocked-the-World-by-John-Scopes

TheTrialThatRockedtheWorldJohnScopes1、AbuzzranthroughthecrowdasItookmyplaceinthepackedcourtonthatswelteringJulydayin1925.ThecounselformydefencewasthefamouscriminallawyerClarenceDarrow.LeadingcounselfortheprosecutionwasWilliamJenningsBryan,thesilver-tonguedorator,threetimesDemocraticnomineeforPresidentoftheUnitedStates,andleaderofthefundamentalistmovementthathadbroughtaboutmytrial.2、AfewweeksbeforeIhadbeenanunknownschool-teacherinDayton,alittletowninthemountainsofTennessee.NowIwasinvolvedinatrialreportedtheworldover.Seatedincourt,readytotestifyonmybehalf,wereadozendistinguishedprofessorsandscientists,ledbyProfessorKirtleyMatherofHarvardUniversity.Morethan100reporterswereonhand,andevenradioannouncers,whoforthefirsttimeinhistoryweretobroadcastajurytrial.Don'tworry,son,we'llshowthemafewtricks,Darrowhadwhispered,throwingareassuringarmroundmyshoulderaswewerewaitingforthecourttoopen.3、ThecasehaderuptedroundmyheadnotlongafterIarrivedinDaytonassciencemasterandfootballcoachatthesecondaryschool.Foranumberofyearsaclashhadbeenbuildingupbetweenthefundamentalistsandthemodernists.ThefundamentalistsadheredtoaliteralinterpretationoftheOldTestament.Themodernists,ontheotherhand,acceptedthetheoryadvancedbyCharlesDarwin--thatallanimallife,includingmonkeysandmen,hadevolvedfromacommonancestor.4、FundamentalismwasstronginTennessee,andthestatelegislaturehadrecentlypassedalawprohibitingtheteachingofanytheorythatdeniesthestoryofcreationastaughtintheBible.ThenewlawwasaimedsquarelyatDarwin'stheoryofevolution.Anengineer,GeorgeRappelyea,usedtoarguewiththelocalpeopleagainstthelaw.Duringonesuchargument,Rappelyeasaidthatnobodycouldteachbiologywithoutteachingevolution.SinceIhadbeenteachingbiology,Iwassentfor.5、Rappelyeaisright,Itoldthem.6、Thenyouhavebeenviolatingthelaw,oneofthemSaid.7、Sohaseveryotherteacher,Ireplied.EvolutionisexplainedinHunter'sCivicBiology,andthat'sourtextbook.8、Rappelyeathenmadeasuggestion.Let'stakethisthingtocourt,hesaid,andtestthelegalityofit.9、WhenIwasindictedonMay7,noone,leastofallI,anticipatedthatmycasewouldsnowballintooneofthemostfamoustrialsinU.S.history.TheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionannouncedthatitwouldtakemycasetotheU.SSupremeCourtifnecessaryto“establishthatateachermaytellthetruthwithoutbeingsenttojail.ThenBryanvolunteeredtoassistthestateinprosecutingme.ImmediatelytherenownedlawyerClarenceDarrowofferedhisservicestodefendme.Ironically,IhadnotknownDarrowbeforemytrialbutIhadmetBryanwhenhehadgivenatalkatmyuniversity.Iadmiredhim,althoughIdidnotagreewithhisviews.10、BythetimethetrialbeganonJuly10,ourtownof1,500peoplehadtakenonacircusatmosphere.Thebuildingsalongthemainstreetwerefestoonedwithbanners.Thestreetsaroundthethree-storeyredbricklawcourtsproutedwithricketystandssellinghotdogs,religiousbooksandwatermelons.Evangelistssetuptentstoexhortthepassersby.Peoplefromthesurroundinghills,mostlyfundamentalists,arrivedtocheerBryanagainsttheinfideloutsiders.AmongthemwasJohnButler,whohaddrawnuptheanti-evolutionlaw.Butlerwasa49-year-oldfarmerwhobeforehiselectionhadneverbeenoutofhisnativecounty.11、ThepresidingjudgewasJohnRaulston,aflorid-facedmanwhoannounced:I'mjustareg’larmountaineerjedge.Bryan,ageingandpaunchy,wasassistedinhisprosecutionbyhisson,alsoalawyer,andTennessee'sbrilliantyoungattorney-general,TomStewart.Besidestheshrewd68-year-oldDarrow,mycounselincludedthehandsomeandmagneticDudleyFieldMalone,43,andArthurGarfieldHays,quiet,scholarlyandsteepedinthelaw.Inatrialinwhichreligionplayedakeyrole,Darrowwasanagnostic,MaloneaCatholicandHaysaJew.MyfatherhadcomefromKentuckytobewithmeforthetrial.12、Thejudgecalledforalocalministertoopenthesessionwithprayer,andthetrialgotunderway.Ofthe12jurors,threehadneverreadanybookexcepttheBible.Onecouldn'tread.Asmyfathergrowled,That'sonehellofajury!13、Afterthepreliminarysparringoverlegalities,Darrowgotuptomakehisopeningstatement.Myfriendtheattorney-generalsaysthatJohnScopesknowswhatheisherefor,Darrowdrawled.Iknowwhatheisherefor,too.Heisherebecauseignoranceandbigotryarerampant,anditisamightystrongcombination.14、Darrowwalkedslowlyroundthebakingcourt.Todayitistheteachers,hecontinued,andtomorrowthemagazines,thebooks,thenewspapers.Afterawhile,itisthesettingofmanagainstmanandcreedagainstcreeduntilwearemarchingbackwardstothegloriousageofthesixteenthcenturywhenbigotslightedfaggotstoburnthemenwhodaredtobringanyintelligenceandenlightenmentandCulturetothehumanmind.15、Thatdamnedinfidel,awomanwhisperedloudlyashefinishedhisaddress.16、Thefollowingdaytheprosecutionbegancallingwitnessesagainstme.Twoofmypupilstestified,grinningshylyatme,thatIhadtaughtthemevolution,butaddedthattheyhadnotbeencontaminatedbytheexperience.HowardMorgan,abrightladof14,testifiedthatIhadtaughtthatmanwasamammallikecows,horses,dogsandcats.17、Hedidn'tsayacatwasthesameasaman?Darrowasked.18、No,sir,theyoungstersaid.Hesaidmanhadreasoningpower.19、Thereissomedoubtaboutthat,Darrowsnorted.20、Aftertheevidencewascompleted,Bryanrosetoaddressthejury.Theissuewassimple,hedeclaredTheChristianbelievesthatmancamefromabove.Theevolutionistbelievesthathemusthavecomef