SCOPES FOUND GUILTY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 5

SCOPES FOUND GUILTY

TEACHING EVOLUTION THEORY “I HAVE OPPOSED AN UNJUST LAW” APPEAL ENTERED AT ONCE By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received July-82, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 21. The jury at Dayton, after deliberating seven minutes, found John Thomas Scopes guilty of teaching the evolution theory, oontrary to the law of Tennessee. Judge Raulston imposed the minimum fine, 100 dollars. Scopes is held on a 500 dollars’ bail, pending the hearing of the appeal case in the Tennessee Supreme Court, in September. A Baltimore newspaper offered security for the' bail bond, and it was aocepted. , Asked if ha had any statement to make before the imposition of the sentence, Scopes declared: “Your Honour, X feel I have been opposing an unjust law. I will continue to support my ideals.” “LAWYERS’ VERBAL BATTLE” The trial came to a dramatic, sudden ending, following Mr Clarence Dar-

#*#<^>*<'#*********#* row’s short and sharp examination of 'William Bryan as a Bible expert, causing the Attorney-General to cry: “What is the meaning of this harangue?” Mr Darrow shouted angrily: “To show up Fundamentalism. To prevent bigots and . ignoramuses controlling the educational system of the United States.” _ Mr Bryan, springing to his feet, and shaking his fist in Mr Darrow’s face, cried: “To protect the Word of God from the greatest atheist and agnostic in the United States!” Mr. Bryan* and Mr Darrow were anxious to continue with their avowed purposes, but the judge called a halt, and ordered Mr Bryan’s testimony to be expunged from the fcoord, claiming that it was irrelevant to tho question at issue, namely: Did Scopes teach that man is descended from a lower order of animals? A conference of the attorneys for the prosecution and the defence decided to forgo all the closing speeches. Mr Darrow asked for a verdict of guilty, since the only way to test” the law was to take it to a higher court. “We have done our best,” he said, “to turn back the tide that has sought to force itself on the modern world, of testing every fact of science by religions dogma.” TENNESSEE ENLIGHTENED Judge Raulston’s final tribute might be regarded as a tribute to the defence of principle. He said: “A great man is one who has a passion for truth, and follows it against all opposition. It takes courage to oppose public sentiment.” An exchange of courtesies followed the end of the trial. All were in good humour, and counsel for the defence thanked Tennessee for its hospitality. Judge MoKenzie, counsel for the prosecution, on behalf of the citizens of the county, said: ‘‘We have learned to take a broader view of life since you came. We want to be more broadminded than some give ns credit for. Thank you for coming. We respect your attitude, and think .wo hare benefited.” JONAH AND THE WHALE MR BRYAN’S ABSOLUTE BELIEF. fSydnev "Sun" Cable.) Warm passes were frequent between the opposing counsel at the trial. Mr William J. Bryan, who entered the witness-box, replying to Air Darrow’s questions as to whether he believed that the whale swallowed Jonah, and whether he believed God made a whale big enough or Jonah small enough, declared that he believed that God could make a fish big enough to swallow a man. He believed what the Bible said. One miracle was just as easy to believe as another. Asked if he believed that Joshua commanded the 6un to stand still, Mr Bryan said he accepted the Bible story absolutely. Asked what would happen if the world stood still, he roElicd: "God would take oare of that.** [e added that ho was there to protect revealed religion.